Children don't need to wear masks or follow strict social distancing when they return to school: SickKids experts
Children returning to school this fall should not be made to wear masks, or strictly follow social distancing when socializing and playing, Canada’s largest children’s hospital recommends in a new report.
The advice from SickKids Hospital seems to veer toward the more relaxed approach taken by some European countries as they have re-opened shuttered schools, as opposed to the stricter protocols implemented in Asian nations.
The report stresses the importance generally of resuming regular, in-person classes come September, saying the psychological benefits outweigh the threat posed by COVID-19.
“It is critical that we balance the risks of COVID-19 in children, which appear to be minimal, with the harms of school closure which is impacting their physical and mental health,” say guidelines released by the facility Wednesday.
The document says that requiring children to wear masks could do more harm than good, given the likelihood many would do so wrongly.
“Children are not typically trained in their use and there is potential for increased risk of infection with improper mask use,” say the hospital’s guidelines. “In young children in particular, masks can be irritating and may lead to increased touching of the face and eyes which could increase the risk of infection.”
The report does recommend that desks in classrooms be separated as much as possible and that class sizes be kept as small as possible to make physical distancing easier. It also advises against large assemblies and other gatherings, and that lunch times be staggered to reduce crowding.
But it says children should be allowed to play at recess and engage in sports, though perhaps not those like football and wrestling that involve extensive physical contact.
· As daycares reopen, parents are facing impossible decisions to keep kids safe from COVID-19
· Sunny weather and still trapped by COVID: Are the kids going to be okay?
“Strict physical distancing should not be emphasized to children in the school setting as it is not practical and could cause significant psychological harm,” said the report. “Close interaction, such as playing and socializing is central to child development and should not be discouraged.”
The hospital said the most effective tools for curbing the spread of the virus in schools are encouraging frequent handwashing, discouraging touching of the face and ensuring students with respiratory symptoms stay home.