Heading back to school? Find where you can buy kids’ masks here

Masks have been added to the back-to-school shopping list. But where can you buy them? We’ve compiled a list of locally made and reusable options.

Emily Jarvis

2 min read

January 21, 2022 - 1:14PM

The Messenger

South

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As families prepare for Term 1 a new item has been added to the back-to-school shopping list as for the first time masks become “strongly recommended” for primary school children in Year 3 and up when indoors.

New school rules, outlined by Premier Steven Marshall, Education Minister John Gardner and chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier on Friday will come into play when students make a delayed return on February 2.

“With Omicron we will have a lot more cases,” Professor Spurrier said.

“We will have many schools where there will be one or two children in the class with Omicron.

“We need to be focusing on the fact that kids do need to be in the classroom and have the most face-to-face learning. It’s very disruptive if they’re out of the classroom for long periods of time.”

The recommendation has left parents wondering where and when they can buy their child a mask.

Fancy That On Beach Road in Christies Beach is just one mask manufacturer trying to keep up with the demand families start shopping for back-to-school masks. Co-owner Nicky Bradley (centre) pictured with Lolita, 11, Scarlett, 9, Braxton, 7 and Kayleigh, 10. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

While the most effective masks to wear in the fight against the Omicron variant are the KN95/N95 masks or medical grade surgical masks.

“These masks can filter both large droplets and the smaller aerosols which could potentially carry the virus if infected people are present,” Professor Sarah Palmer, co-director at the Centre for Virus Research at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research said.

“However, to be protective, these masks must be worn correctly covering the nose, mouth and chin.”

Fancy That on Beach Road started making masks from its Christies Beach business when finding a reusable mask was similar to finding a needle in a haystack or a RAT in South Australia.

“Business obviously wasn’t great with costume hire, we started making masks,” co-owner Kate Billinghurst said.

“We were making customs ones, business ones and the demand was massive because no one could get masks at the time.”

Once suppliers began to get on top of stock and customers were able to find cheaper disposable masks, Mrs Billinghurst said demand would flip flop between new restrictions and lockdowns.

“They were eventually on every corner, but ours are ethically made right here in South Australia,” she said.

“Now with school going back we have started producing navy, blue and black because so many schools want their students to wear a plain mask.

“But I feel if we are going to wear masks, wouldn’t it be better if everyone could wear something fun or show a little bit of personality.”

For those wanting to either match with uniforms or sport their favourite Marvel character, here is a list of where you can purchase a locally made mask.