“We are asking all students aged eight and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter,” the letter signed by the heads of the state, independent and Catholic sectors says.— Has your child been asked to wear a mask at school? Email susie.obrien@news.com.auThe missive goes on to say students “won’t be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors.”However, some independent schools are going a step further and telling parents that they will “require students from grade 4 and above to wear a mask indoors unless a health condition requires an exemption (students are required to bring their own masks)”. Schools are choosing to override the Victorian government and follow advice from the acting chief health officer Ben Cowie instead.Asked whether children without masks in class would be forced to wear them or sent home, a government source said: “Nobody is being sent anywhere it’s still up to individuals”.But some stunned parents described the message as a “mandate by stealth”, in another blow for Victorian children who have faced among the most interrupted schooling and punitive mask rules of anywhere in the world.The letter is signed by the deputy secretary of the Department of Education Dr David Howes, Michelle Green, the chief executive of independent Schools Victoria and Jim Miles, the executive director of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria.“We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible,” the letter says.“We also ask that you make sure your child (or children) takes a mask to school (and wears it if they are travelling on public transport) or collects a mask when they arrive at school.“We all appreciate how important it is for students to be back at school. This action will help make sure as many students and staff as possible are protected from Covid and other winter illnesses,” the letter says.“Thank you for your help with this collective effort to keep our communities safe and healthy.”Meanwhile, Victoria announced 12,201 new Covid cases on Tuesday, along with 25 deaths.Currently, 897 patients are in hospital with Covid, including 34 receiving intensive care, 11 of whom are on a ventilator.Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the decision to ask kids to wear masks was her advice, but insisted it was not a mandate.“No (it’s not a mandate) … It’s very strong advice,” she told ABC Radio on Tuesday morning.“These are decisions that will be taken by parents and families. “No child will be disadvantaged for not wearing a mask.”Asked if she would categorically rule out a mandate, Ms Thomas said: “I will not be mandating mask-wearing because the position is we need to encourage Victorians with the information and advice they need to make the decisions that are best for them.”“This is what we want to see, the advice being distributed through as many channels as possible.”Ms Thomas maintained the government’s messaging around Covid measures in Victoria is clear and consistent.Education Minister Natalie Hutchins, who is understood to have signed off on the co-authored letter to parents, said it was not a policy change.Mixed reaction to mask adviceDespite the government’s stance that the advice was not a mandate, opposition education spokesman David Hodgett said “there is no other way of describing” it.“If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck – it is a duck,” he said.Mr Hodgett said Victorian children have suffered the longest of any in the country, saying masks have contributed to that.“Masks in schools interrupt learning, stifle interaction and are incredibly uncomfortable for our kids to wear for long periods of time,” he said.“Furthermore, studies out of Finland, the US and Spain have conclusively shown that requiring students to wear masks has no impact on the spread of Covid.“Evidence shows that children are the least affected by Covid, yet it seems they are being punished by the Andrews Labor government who see schools as an easy target to do something about Covid.“By all means, children should wear a mask at school if they or their parents wish. The Liberals and Nationals’ position is clear: no mask mandates. No ifs, no buts.”NED-5250-Victoria’s Covid-19 statisticsA spokeswoman from parenting group Shadow Pandemic said it was “‘magical thinking’ to think that pressuring children to wear masks all five days a week while they are in their rightful place of learning and socialising will make any significance to reducing Covid cases in the broader community”.“Again, it’s harms v risks. Harm to kids via masking is far more significant than the effect of reducing cases,” she said.She said children were not the target market that needed protecting.Victorian Covid statistics show there are 6000 active cases of children under 19 and 29,000 cases of all other ages.Mother Paula Barbosa will be sending her eight-year-old daughter, Elise, to school with a mask on. Ms Barbosa said Elise, who goes to Middle Park Primary School, was “happy” to mask up in the classroom. “I think we should do anything we can to minimize the spread,” Ms Barbosa said. “I prefer the recommendation, rather than a mandate.“Elise is happy to wear a mask, it’s nothing new for the kids.” But parent Marguerita Perilli said she will only make her 10-year-old son, James, wear a mask if the virus started to spread rapidly at the school. “If things got out of control at the school then I would be recommending James to wear one in class,” Ms Perilli said. “If not everyone wears one, I guess you could say what’s the point.“But it’s not unreasonable … especially if it’s going to prevent further lockdowns.” Masks in schoolsHowever, another parent from Albert Park Primary said there was “unnecessary pressure to put masks on children”.“I am mortified – it makes me feel sick. Children are coping the brunt of the government’s decisions and it’s like they are being penalised,” she said.“It’s a mandate by stealth getting people to confirm once again.”Aother parent with two children in private primary schools said the government was “running scared” ahead of the November election.“The government needs the public to see that they are doing something – anything,” she said.“Our kids definitely won’t be wearing masks,” she said.She said the suggestion that masks were not “required” outdoors led to the assumption they are required indoors.But Gail McHardy, CEO of Parents Victoria, said parents were “all doing our best not to allow our mindset to be driven by fear and fatigue”.“Congratulations to all, for your efforts in 2022 so far, it hasn’t been easy and we have to ride the remaining winter wave a little longer. This is why Parents Victoria has created our own message about masks – Mask up, it can’t hurt!”Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said: “We know masks provide good protection against the transmission of Covid, so while they’re not mandated, we’re strongly recommending all staff and students aged 8 and over wear them indoors at school.”
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