Thread by @spaiglass

This just out: @AmyTanMD and I make the case that by not mandating masks for K-12 children in schools, we are playing Russian roulette with the health of our children, educators and communities.

Why?
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#SafeSeptember #Masks4Canada @DFisman @AshTuite
link.medium.com/iVB4wW4768

1. Children represent ~3–9% of COVID-19 infections. This fraction is rising in the US due to testing and increased exposure. Although children have less severe symptoms than adults, why some children get sicker and a rare few die is still unknown.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
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2. Children transmit COVID-19 to household and non-household contacts with resulting severe outcomes, such as death. Expectant mothers infected with COVID-19 tend to have more severe outcomes than other women of reproductive age.
sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/w…
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3. #LongCOVID reported by 10–15% of patients represents a risk for long-term disability for family members and school staff. It is too early to document long-term effects on child development, as this is our first year of COVID-19. Masks = Precaution.
theatlantic.com/health/archive…
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4. Masks are effective in schools, which violate the 3C’s of avoiding COVID-19: they are closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded, involve close contact. Masks are the most inexpensive tool to break the chain of air-borne transmission.
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cbc.ca/news/health/co…

5. Parents and educators can teach children to wear masks using the 4 P’s: play, practice, preparation and patience. Having a comfortable, well-fitting mask is crucial for daily use over hours. @ChildLifeMorgan
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thestar.com/news/gta/2020/…

6. Masks are an important piece in a comprehensive strategy for safe schools, which includes: low community transmission, distancing, hand hygiene, and improved surveillance.

Let's mandate masks for K-12 children in *all* Canadian schools.

/END
theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl…

Clarification: "Masks are the most inexpensive tool to break the chain of transmission by respiratory droplets in the air".