Psychosocial, biological, and immunological risks for children and pupils make long-term wearing of mouth masks difficult to maintain. SARS-COV-2 infection and transmission in children and adolescents is low and WHO experts advised that use of facemasks is not recommended as potential benefits are rather limited and there is a potential risk of self-contamination if used improperly.
Published: August 19, 2020
A group of scientists in Belgium and the Netherlands warn that face masks can lead to significant difficulties in the health and development of adolescents: “face masks prevent the mirroring of facial expressions, a process that facilitates empathetic connections and trust between pupils and teachers. This potentially leads to a significant increase in socio-psychological stress.” Further, the researchers claim that this over-stressing of youth and adolescents can lead to increased chance of depression and development of anxiety disorders warranting use of prescription antidepressants. The researchers conclude that “several researchers have shown a relationship between the increase in stress experiences and the risk of upper respiratory tract infections and mortality.”
Published: August 19, 2020
A Brown University study found that babies born during the pandemic may have lower IQ scores than those born before it and COVID lockdowns and face masks are to blame. This disturbing study shows scores in three key cognitive tests slumped between 2018 and 2021, with face mask rules among possible culprits. Babies who came into the world before the coronavirus had a cognitive score hovering around 100, according to the study. But the test scores of babies born during the pandemic fell sharply, to around 78, 22 points lower than what’s considered normal.
In the study’s discussion;“Studies in older children and adolescents over the past year have found reduced social interaction, increased media consumption, and reduced physical activity. It is likely these same trends are true for younger children and infants as well with the closure or reduced capacity of daycares and preschools, and may be associated with impaired motor development, motor coordination and visual processing, language development, and socioemotional processing. In addition, masks worn in public settings and in school or daycare settings may impact a range of early developing skills, such as attachment, facial processing, and socioemotional processing.”