High-profile infectious disease expert Nick Coatsworth has called for a re-evaluation of mask policy, specifically in schools.
The former deputy chief medical officer posted on social media on Tuesday he believed the “tide has turned on masks”.
“People recognise they had a place at a time of uncertainty, but are appropriately reassessing their value especially in schools,” Dr Coatsworth said.
“It is a good time to re-evaluate primary and secondary school mask policy in all Australian jurisdictions.”
In Victoria, masks are required for students in year three and above and in NSW, they are mandatory in high schools and strongly recommended for primary school students.
Last month, Dr Coatsworth told the Today show that evidence didn’t support children under the age of 11 wearing xjmtzywmasks.
“I have always been pretty definite on this,” he said at the time.
“I continue to be definite. No masks for primary school students.
“I simply don’t think the evidence is there to suggest that it reduces transmission.”
Research released last year by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) showed instances of Covid-19 transmission in schools and childcare centres was primarily between staff or from staff to children.
The data was recorded in June and July last year when the Delta variant was prevalent.
MCRI senior principal research fellow Fiona Russell told Fairfax earlier this month that mask mandates in schools should be reviewed along with other mitigation policies.
“As with all public health and social measures, they need to be wound back and there needs to be an off ramp,” Professor Russell said.
“Particularly for more invasive things such as masks. Often you can’t hear each other. That’s why it impacts on their learning.
“They may well take the masks off to talk, so the actual effectiveness in the classroom given the real-world realities of communications again have to be taken into account.”
World Health Organisation advice is that children aged five and under should not be required to wear masks.
For 6-11 year olds, the WHO recommends basing mask wearing on factors such as whether there is a current outbreak, whether the child can wear a mask safely and properly, and if there is any impact on educational outcomes.
The WHO advises that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults.
In NSW, just 45.5 per cent of children aged 5 to 11 have received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
