November 30, 2021 - 11:49am
This week the Government announced that secondary school pupils will once again be ‘strongly advised’ to wear face masks in ‘communal areas’ such as corridors. The Department of Education has said that the guidance is temporary and will be reviewed in three weeks (when most schools break up for the Christmas holidays).
The lack of logic behind this policy is infuriating. Why enforce masks in communal areas but not classrooms, where students spend the majority of their time and transmission is most likely? Why make masks mandatory for secondary pupils but not primary ones? Between the 10th and 20th of November, almost the exact same percentage of primary school students tested positive for Covid as secondary school ones (3.7 to 3.5), and we already know that primary school staff are just as likely to catch Covid as secondary school staff.
There is of course an argument that we need to be cautious until we know more about the Omicron variant. However, if the Government is genuinely concerned about the transmissibility of Omicron, and its potential to evade vaccine protection, then it should act accordingly.
We know that fabric face masks have very little effect — their inefficacy means they have already been banned in French schools — and this probably explains why Scottish schools have struggled with outbreaks even though face coverings have been mandatory since October half term. In fact, according to Oxford’s Prof. James Naismith, ONS survey data on Covid prevalence showed that ‘the Scottish and English approach to masking although formally different since July has made no meaningful difference to Delta.’
On the other hand, more filtered face coverings such as surgical or FPP2 masks give much higher levels of protection: up to 94-95%. If we are going to force students to wear masks (which is far from a given), then surely we should at least make them wear masks that actually work?
The policy seems to be yet another example of the government’s desire to be seen to do ‘something’ when in reality it is doing nothing; an action that is a distraction from their inaction. For months schools have campaigned for carbon dioxide monitors to monitor ventilation levels in classrooms, and despite the government pledging £25 million to improve schools’ ventilation, latest figures suggest that only 2% of schools have received these. Yet only 40% of secondary school teachers think their classrooms are well-ventilated, and 7% cannot even open their windows.
I also worry about the return of self-isolation for contacts of the new Omicron variant, and the inevitable disruption this will have on teaching and learning as healthy children are forced to quarantine. What’s more it will hardly help vaccine uptake amongst teenagers (of whom only around 20 percent have been jabbed) — how can we tell them to trust the vaccine and yet restrict and disrupt their lives regardless?
When used correctly masks may well serve a useful purpose, but this halfway house is just performative hygiene theatre. As one student aptly put it to me this morning, “Here we go again, Miss.”
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SubscribeThank you for clearly describing yet another example of how aggressive litigation leads to overly defensive patterns of practice that have the potential to negatively impact quality of life by preventing the application of more appropriate patient care options. These examples should serve to remind each of us of the need to advance balanced approaches to treatment protocols which prioritize evidence-based medicine and patient outcomes over that of the omnipresent fear of potential litigation.
Important also to remember the power of special interest lobby groups – in this case pregnancy and childbirth charities. These lobby groups can sometimes sway the argument too far in one direction. A good example is alcohol and breastfeeding where vigorous lobbying has lead many to believe that no alcohol is the only safe option whereas moderate drinking will have no effect on the baby.
You are very correct, they have been instrumental in bringing in the PPP and policy with the MHRA and they too have forgotten the living patient with epilepsy
Sincere gratitude David for writing such fantastic article, ensuring our voices are heard. I am one of those who need Valproate, and whole heartedly resent how we’ve systemically had our human rights and patient capacity to make informed decisions stripped away from us.
It equally breaks my heart of the needless harm and loss of life the policy and restrictions is causing which was introduced and continues to be held in place by the MHRA. It is very clear the MHRA do not put the living patient first and foremost in their thinking.
Our voices, our bodies, our rights, our lives count.
I doubt if the concern is really for the potential unborn children of epileptics; I suspect a morbid fear of litigation and bad press is at the heart of this. Plus a hidden paternalism in the health services – otherwise why not ask women to sign an agreement saying they have been made aware of the risks. I bet you can get this drug in the states where people are left to make their own health decisions
We are made to sign an “Annual Risk Awareness Form” (ARAF), however due to the additional restrictions enforced this year, it’s changed also into medicine change consent form which is so dangerous for patients, myself included.
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/rmm/1207/Document
Meanwhile… our Health Secretary is going to introduce league tables and a consultation with everyone involved in health and care services. This will surprisingly discover that the NHS is just hunky dory except for the need to receive yet more vast sums of money and a few minor changes to minor issues. But fortunately it will all be inclusive, diverse and fair.
Thank you for writing such a well written and researched piece. As the parent of a daughter who needs and takes Valproate to control her epilepsy, I am utterly dismayed at how powerless the ‘powers that be’ make us feel. Epilepsy already robs one of so much of independence, confidence and trust, then it seems that the very people who are meant to help you then pull the rug from under you and remove your agency and even discussion about treatment. This discussion is nuanced and should be treated as such by the professionals.
Epilepsy is s a complex topic. There are several effective medications, but the caveat is that not every medication is effective on every patient that that ALL effective anti-epileptics have significant secondary effects.
Therefore, doctor’s choice and informed consent of the patient should be the rule, on a strict case by case basis.
There should also be an understanding that health is not an exact/simple science and that anything out of gross/deliberate negligence has no place being debated in courts. The judiciary has blood on its hands, as well as a thrombosis of NHS ineffectiveness..
Time to kick lawyers out of healthcare.