Victorian students asked to wear masks in schools until the end of winter

Victorian parents are divided on the Andrews government’s mask recommendation for schoolchildren, while the deputy premier has denied creating confusion among families.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan insists health advice over masks in schools has not changed despite a letter from education leaders asking children to wear them.

It comes after parents on Monday were issued new advice by schools saying all children over the age of eight should cover their faces in class, but the government still insists it’s not a mask mandate.

“We are asking all students aged eight and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter,” the letter signed by the heads of the state, independent and Catholic sectors says.

— Has your child been asked to wear a mask at school? Email [e-mail]

The missive goes on to say students “won’t be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors.”

However, some independent schools are going a step further and telling parents that they will “require students from grade 4 and above to wear a mask indoors unless a health condition requires an exemption (students are required to bring their own masks)”.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan says the letter sent to parents and schools is ‘in line’ with advice provided by government last week. Picture: David Geraghty

Schools are choosing to override the Victorian government and follow advice from the acting chief health officer Ben Cowie ­instead.

However, when questioned by the media over the letter, which went out to parents and schools late on Monday, Ms Allan said it was “in line” with the advice provided last week by the government.

At the time, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas rejected a call for mask mandates in schools but their use indoors was strongly recommended.

“That’s been reinforced appropriately by the three different school system settings.

“The government, Catholic and non-government independent schools have jointly reinforced that message to their school communities.

“That’s appropriate because consistent with what the health minister said last week, this is about providing information to individuals, to workplaces, to families (and) to the community more broadly about how they can continue to take the appropriate measures.”

When asked if schools would suspend students who didn’t wear masks, Ms Allan said “students will continued to be welcomed in school settings”.

But independent schools who were making masks a requirement were entitled to do so.

“What we’ve seen (is) schools are managing these situations on a setting by setting basis and again that’s consistent with the advice from the health minister from last week,” Ms Allan said.

The government’s advice on masks in schools is a strong recommendation for masks indoors.

But in the letter from education heads, they say: “We are asking all students aged eight and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks in class.”

Ms Allan denied this had created confusion about whether there was now requirement for children.

“Let’s be clear, it’s not a mandate,” she said.

“It is entirely appropriate for schools to be given further information.

“There is a hunger for information … people want to do the right thing to protect themselves, their loved ones, their work colleagues from the spread of this virus.

“Schools are doing their bit by reinforcing that message about the health ministers advice to recommend for masks to be worn indoors.

“The three settings co-signing that letter is a sign that they are wanting one consistent message going out to school communities.

Ms Allan said the health minister had chosen rules that matched the other states.

“The settings we have here are Australia wide settings and I think it’s a good thing for the school systems to be working together to be providing that consistent messages to families in all schools here in Victoria,” she said.

Asked whether children without masks in class would be forced to wear them or sent home, a government source said: “Nobody is being sent anywhere, it’s still up to individuals”.

Felix and Oliver wear masks to school. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Confused parents split on mask advice

Mother Paula Barbosa will be sending her eight-year-old daughter, Elise, to school with a mask on.

Ms Barbosa said Elise, who goes to Middle Park Primary School, was “happy” to mask up in the classroom.

“I think we should do anything we can to minimise the spread,” Ms Barbosa said.

“I prefer the recommendation, rather than a mandate.

“Elise is happy to wear a mask, it’s nothing new for the kids.”

But parent Marguerita Perilli said she will only make her 10-year-old son, James, wear a mask if the virus started to spread rapidly at the school.

“If things got out of control at the school then I would be recommending James to wear one in class,” Ms Perilli said.

“If not everyone wears one, I guess you could say what’s the point.

“But it’s not unreasonable … especially if it’s going to prevent further lockdowns.”

But some stunned parents described the message as a “mandate by stealth”, in another blow for Victorian children who have faced among the most interrupted schooling and punitive mask rules of anywhere in the world.

A parent from Albert Park Primary said there was “unnecessary pressure to put masks on children”.

“I am mortified – it makes me feel sick. Children are coping the brunt of the government’s decisions and it’s like they are being penalised,” she said.

“It’s a mandate by stealth getting people to confirm once again.”

Another parent with two children in private primary schools said the government was “running scared” ahead of the November election.

“The government needs the public to see that they are doing something – anything,” she said.

“Our kids definitely won’t be wearing masks,” she said.

She said the suggestion that masks were not “required” outdoors led to the assumption they are required indoors.

But Gail McHardy, CEO of Parents Victoria, said parents were “all doing our best not to allow our mindset to be driven by fear and fatigue”.

“Congratulations to all, for your efforts in 2022 so far, it hasn’t been easy and we have to ride the remaining winter wave a little longer. This is why Parents Victoria has created our own message about masks – Mask up, it can’t hurt!”

Paula Barbosa with her daughter, Elise, who is happy to wear a mask.

Mum Marguerita Perilli isn’t pushing her son, James, to mask up — yet.

What letter recommending masks said

The letter recommending masks is signed by the deputy secretary of the Department of Education Dr David Howes, Michelle Green, the chief executive of independent Schools Victoria and Jim Miles, the executive director of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria.

“We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible,” the letter says.

“We also ask that you make sure your child (or children) takes a mask to school (and wears it if they are travelling on public transport) or collects a mask when they arrive at school.

“We all appreciate how important it is for students to be back at school. This action will help make sure as many students and staff as possible are protected from Covid and other winter illnesses,” the letter says.

“Thank you for your help with this collective effort to keep our communities safe and healthy.”

Meanwhile, Victoria announced 12,201 new Covid cases on Tuesday, along with 25 deaths.

Currently, 897 patients are in hospital with Covid, including 34 receiving intensive care, 11 of whom are on a ventilator.

The letter sent to parents regarding mask wearing in Victorian schools.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the decision to ask kids to wear masks was her advice, but insisted it was not a mandate.

“No (it’s not a mandate) … It’s very strong advice,” she told ABC Radio on Tuesday morning.

“These are decisions that will be taken by parents and families.

“No child will be disadvantaged for not wearing a mask.”

Asked if she would categorically rule out a mandate, Ms Thomas said: “I will not be mandating mask-wearing because the position is we need to encourage Victorians with the information and advice they need to make the decisions that are best for them.”

“This is what we want to see, the advice being distributed through as many channels as possible.”

Ms Thomas maintained the government’s messaging around Covid measures in Victoria is clear and consistent.

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins, who is understood to have signed off on the co-authored letter to parents, said it was not a policy change.

South Melbourne Primary students wear in masks in the school library. Picture: David Caird

Mixed reaction to mask advice

Despite the government’s stance that the advice was not a mandate, opposition education spokesman David Hodgett said “there is no other way of describing” it.

“If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck – it is a duck,” he said.

Mr Hodgett said Victorian children have suffered the longest of any in the country, saying masks have contributed to that.

“Masks in schools interrupt learning, stifle interaction and are incredibly uncomfortable for our kids to wear for long periods of time,” he said.

“Furthermore, studies out of Finland, the US and Spain have conclusively shown that requiring students to wear masks has no impact on the spread of Covid.

“Evidence shows that children are the least affected by Covid, yet it seems they are being punished by the Andrews Labor government who see schools as an easy target to do something about Covid.

“By all means, children should wear a mask at school if they or their parents wish. The Liberals and Nationals’ position is clear: no mask mandates. No ifs, no buts.”

A spokeswoman from parenting group Shadow Pandemic said it was “‘magical thinking’ to think that pressuring children to wear masks all five days a week while they are in their rightful place of learning and socialising will make any significance to reducing Covid cases in the broader community”.

“Again, it’s harms v risks. Harm to kids via masking is far more significant than the effect of reducing cases,” she said.

She said children were not the target market that needed protecting.

Victorian Covid statistics show there are 6000 active cases of children under 19 and 29,000 cases of all other ages.

Originally published as Victorian students asked to wear masks in schools until the end of winter