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Freepen.gr - Καθώς γίνεται συζήτηση ως προς τη χρήση των μασκών στα σχολεία, έχει ενδιαφέρον να διαβάσουμε τι αναφέρει ο Παγκόσμιος Οργανισμός Υγείας στην ιστοσελίδα του. Τα κείμενα είναι γραμμένα σε απλά κατανοητά αγγλικά από όλους.
Επισκεπτόμενος κανείς την ενότητα για τα παιδιά και τις μάσκες που σχετίζονται με τον Covid-19
Q&A: Children and masks related to COVID-19 (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-children-and-masks-related-to-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR13dmmxPLIvBoLDvP-DOCFXEe0_0WXt-lcDztQ_WJXxRpihyyN37EV8Dxw) διαβάζει:
WHO advises that people always consult and abide by local authorities
on recommended practices in their area. An international and
multidisciplinary expert group brought together by WHO reviewed evidence
on COVID-19 disease and transmission in children and the limited
available evidence on the use of masks by children.
Based on
this and other factors such as childrens’ psychosocial needs and
developmental milestones, WHO and UNICEF advise the following:
Children aged 5 years and under
should not be required to wear masks. This is based on the safety and
overall interest of the child and the capacity to appropriately use a
mask with minimal assistance.
WHO and UNICEF advise that the decision to use masks for children aged 6-11 should be based on the following factors:
- Whether there is widespread transmission in the area where the child resides
- The ability of the child to safely and appropriately use a mask
- Access to masks, as well as laundering and replacement of masks in certain settings (such as schools and childcare services)
- Adequate adult supervision and instructions to the child on how to put on, take off and safely wear masks
- Potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial development, in consultation with teachers, parents/caregivers and/or medical providers
- Specific settings and interactions the child has with other people who are at high risk of developing serious illness, such as the elderly and those with other underlying health conditions
WHO and UNICEF advise that children aged 12 and over
should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular
when they cannot guarantee at least a 1-metre distance from others and
there is widespread transmission in the area.
More on the types of masks, how to choose them, and how to wear them is available here: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
Ο Π.Ο.Υ. συστήνει αποφυγή χρήσης μάσκας για παιδιά κάτω των 5 ετών, θέτει έξι προϋποθέσεις με βασικότερο τη διάδοση του ιού στην κοινότητα που μένει το μένει το παιδί για τα παιδιά ηλικίας 6-11 ετών και για τα παιδιά άνω των 12 ετών προτείνει τη χρήση μάσκας υπό τις ίδιες προϋποθέσεις με τους ενήλικες και συγκεκριμένα όταν δεν μπορεί να υπάρξει εγγύηση απόστασης ενός μέτρου από άλλους ανθρώπους και υπάρχει διάδοση του ιού στην περιοχή.
Όσον αφορά τη χρήση μάσκας στα σχολεία:
Does WHO recommend staff and children to wear masks at school? And if yes, what type of masks? (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-schools-and-covid-19)
The decision to wear a mask depends on the assessment of risk.
For example, how extensive is COVID-19 in the community? Can the school ensure
physical distance of at least 1 metre from others? Are there students or
teachers with underlying health conditions?
Fabric masks are recommended to prevent onward
transmission in the general population in public areas, particularly where
distancing is not possible, and in areas of community transmission. This
could include the school grounds in some situations. Masks may help
to protect others, because wearers may
be infected before symptoms of illness appear. The policy on wearing
a mask or face covering should be in line with national or local
guidelines. Where used, masks should be worn, cared for and disposed of properly.
It is important that
anyone feeling unwell should stay at home and call their health provider.
Για τη χρήση της μάσκας στα σχολεία θέτει συγκεκριμένα ερωτήματα που πρέπει να απαντηθούν κατά περίπτωση όσον αφορά το ύψος του ρίσκου, τη διάδοση του ιού στην κοινότητα, την εγγύηση του σχολείου όσον αφορά την τήρηση των αποστάσεων (τουλάχιστον ενός μέτρου) και την παρουσία καθηγητών / μαθητών με υποκείμενα νοσήματα. Σημειώνει ότι οι υφασμάτινες μάσκες συστήνονται για την αποτροπή της μετάδοσης στο γενικό πληθυσμό σε δημόσιους χώρους, ιδιαίτερα όταν δεν είναι δυνατή η τήρηση των αποστάσεων και σε περιοχές μετάδοσης στην κοινότητα. Αυτό μπορεί να περιλαμβάνει τους χώρους του σχολείου σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις ενώ αναφέρει ότι η πολιτική για τη χρήση μάσκας ή κάλυψης προσώπου θα πρέπει να είναι σύμφωνη με τις εθνικές ή τοπικές οδηγίες.
Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος των παιδιών στη μετάδοση του ιού
What is the role of children in transmission? (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-schools-and-covid-19)
The role of children in
transmission is not well understood. To date, few outbreaks involving
children or schools have been reported. However, the small number of
outbreaks reported among teaching or associated staff also suggests that
spread of COVID-19 within educational settings may be limited.
As
children generally have milder illness and fewer symptoms, cases may
sometimes go unnoticed. Importantly, early data from studies suggest
that infection rates among teenagers may be higher than in younger
children. Some modelling studies suggest that school re-opening might
have a small effect on wider transmission in the community, but this is
not well understood.
Further studies are underway on the role of
children in transmission in and outside of educational settings. WHO is
collaborating with scientists around the world to develop protocols that
countries can use to study COVID transmission in educational
institutions, which will soon be available at this link.