[Smithy]

Christ can they get anything right

[Liam-]

This government is an actual embarrassment, I know people will say ‘it’s good they can change their minds!! #BackBoris’ but Christ, wouldn’t it be nice to be run by a government that leads from the front rather than one that is always on the back foot when it comes to important things.

[Strictly Jake]

Again I will post what the gov.uk website says. Yes its embarrassing

[Wearing a face covering or face mask in schools or other education settings is not recommended. Face coverings may be beneficial for short periods indoors where there is a risk of close social contact with people you do not usually meet and where social distancing and other measures cannot be maintained, for example on public transport or in some shops. This does not apply to schools or other education settings. Schools and other education or childcare settings should therefore not require staff, children and learners to wear face coverings. Changing habits, cleaning and hygiene are effective measures in controlling the spread of the virus. Face coverings (or any form of medical mask unless instructed to be used for specific clinical reasons) should not be worn in any circumstance by those who may not be able to handle them as directed (for example, young children, or those with special educational needs or disabilities) as it may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission

[Oliver_W]

While flexibility in the face of new evidence etc can be a good thing ... jeezus-pleezus this government is embarrassing. Almost makes on yearn for the days of Cameron

[Crimson Dynamo]

[user104658]

I honestly think the solution for teachers in schools is just for it to be allowed, but not required. . I've seen teachers wearing them at my daughter's school, and others not wearing them, so I assume that's the case there.

[Cherie]

why is it embarrassing? they listened to concerns and acted on it

The WHO do not advise face coverings in schools

[Strictly Jake]

Originally Posted by Cherie

why is it embarrassing? they listened to concerns and acted on it

The WHO do not advise face coverings in schools

It is embarrassing as they have given schools so many u turns already. It should have been in place in the first place if its not safe to not wear a mask.

[Samm]

Originally Posted by Cherie

why is it embarrassing? they listened to concerns and acted on it

The WHO do not advise face coverings in schools

Constantly going back on their word isn’t quite reassuring in a confident government is it.

[bots]

i would never criticise the government when they do what best evidence says is the right thing, all this thread shows is political immaturity by the op

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

i would never criticise the government when they do what best evidence says is the right thing, all this thread shows is political immaturity by the op

Your blind faith shows political immaturity for me, we have been living with coronavirus for a long time now. Are you seriously suggesting that the weight of evidence for masks has shifted that dramatically in a day to cause the govt to flip their recommendations?

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Samm

Constantly going back on their word isn’t quite reassuring in a confident government is it.

they haven't gone back 'on their word' the WHO and their own Health advisers have not advised it

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Cherie

why is it embarrassing? they listened to concerns and acted on it

The WHO do not advise face coverings in schools

Because it was advised last Friday that children over 12 should wear them but Boris has said all week that it’s not necessary

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Because it was advised last Friday that children over 12 should wear them but Boris has said all week that it’s not necessary

by who? link please.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Cherie

by who? link please.

Christ alive maybe read the ****ing article?

[Jake.]

It’s beyond a joke at this point lol

[Kazanne]

Not embarrasing at all ,infact quite courageous as they know the backlash they get from some quarters, ,nothing wrong with taking advice and acting on it, a government that does not UTurn just isnt listening, but any old stick to bash I guess.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Not embarrasing at all ,infact quite courageous as they know the backlash they get from some quarters, ,nothing wrong with taking advice and acting on it, a government that does not UTurn just isnt listening, but any old stick to bash I guess.

The advice was changed last week and yet the government are only acting upon it now. It’s very embarrassing

[Tom4784]

In fairness, when all this began, the medical advice was that masks weren't effective but Boris and co were far too slow on the uptake when that original advice was proven wrong. Masks should have been mandatory weeks before they were made so.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

In fairness, when all this began, the medical advice was that masks weren't effective but Boris and co were far too slow on the uptake when that original advice was proven wrong. Masks should have been mandatory weeks before they were made so.

They made masks mandatory on public transport before Scotland (where is the backlash for that?) and as far as I am aware Wales still has a no mask policy, maybe Liam can comment because it might have changed

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

They made masks mandatory on public transport before Scotland (where is the backlash for that?) and as far as I am aware Wales still has a no mask policy, maybe Liam can comment because it might have changed

To be faiirrrr (and defensive of Scotland) this is mainly because of the public transport situation in London which, in the UK, is pretty much unique to the city. "Mandatory masks on public transport in England" was mainly to mandate it on the London Underground.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

To be faiirrrr (and defensive of Scotland) this is mainly because of the public transport situation in London which, in the UK, is pretty much unique to the city. "Mandatory masks on public transport in England" was mainly to mandate it on the London Underground.

it was mandatory on public transport all over England

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Cherie

They made masks mandatory on public transport before Scotland (where is the backlash for that?) and as far as I am aware Wales still has a no mask policy, maybe Liam can comment because it might have changed

We still fell far behind other countries who made masks mandatory as soon as the information changed or shortly after. We've been slow on the uptake for most of this pandemic really.

[user104658]

In all honesty though the science behind mask wearing is still very flimsy. That's inevitable really, it wasn't being properly looked at until less than 6 months ago, and that simply isn't anywhere near long enough for any really robust research to have been carried out. Previous "non-Covid" studies into mask wearing and the effect on the spread of illness has shown that it has little if any significant effect - BUT they have also shown that it doesn't do any harm. We're all sort of operating on "best guess" scenarios with it at the moment... and my take is that, if we know it's unlikely to cause any harm, and the effectiveness of how much good it does is "an unknown", we might as well err on the side of caution and wear them .

The data will be available one day and we'll have some pretty robust stats on how effective it was (if at all). For now, there's no reason NOT to.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

In all honesty though the science behind mask wearing is still very flimsy. That's inevitable really, it wasn't being properly looked at until less than 6 months ago, and that simply isn't anywhere near long enough for any really robust research to have been carried out. Previous "non-Covid" studies into mask wearing and the effect on the spread of illness has shown that it has little if any significant effect - BUT they have also shown that it doesn't do any harm. We're all sort of operating on "best guess" scenarios with it at the moment... and my take is that, if we know it's unlikely to cause any harm, and the effectiveness of how much good it does is "an unknown", we might as well err on the side of caution and wear them .

The data will be available one day and we'll have some pretty robust stats on how effective it was (if at all). For now, there's no reason NOT to.

It might not have been looked at from a covid perspective but surgical masks have always been worn in surgery to prevent risk to the patient not the surgeon as part of their PPE.

I don't agree the science is flimsy, it's perfectly robust and obvious to me that if you limit the concentration and or reach of air molecules you slow the spread and reduce the risk.

We now have lots of evidence as to how effective they are, it would be pure ignorance to leave it up to individuals to decide as the effectiveness is based on significantly reducing airbourne particles. In the petri dish that is your average high school that would require the involvement of all.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...-guidance.html