Should young people use masks?

THE use of disposable masks is creating huge environmental issues, and the availability of multi use face coverings is low, so you might think that these issues might be used to say why young people are not expected to use marks, yet that's not the case. Oddly, we hear a wide range of odd reasons why children and young people shouldn't be forced to use them in the UK. These reasons we have heard include statements like:- "they will not wear their masks correctly, if at all." "Girls will constantly be adjusting them," as well as:- "boys will be flicking them across the room and pulling each others' elastic bands."

With some Conservative MPs and parents' groups, objecting to the moves, claiming that they will result in long term mental health issues for children and arguing that they will have a longer term effect on people's ability to learn and socialise, how rational are these concerns?

The only globally accepted consensus is that babies and children under 2 should not wear masks. Also, many children and young people across the World are using marks. European countries on the whole have opted to do this, and Japanese children have used masks for years, without issues. So why are we seeing a backlash in England over the requirement in England for secondary pupils to wear face masks in class and this backlash block other moves to control Covid19?

Yet, in Europe, and in some other countries have not adapted these policies, such as Sweden, where pupils in schools are not required to wear masks, down to same concerns that are being heard in the UK...

As the Omicron variant sweeps the glebe and our country, beyond the mandatory requirements, whether or not you choose to put your child in a mask remember it's only as a precaution to help your child stop the spread of Coronavirus. Is it really that massive an issue, on mental health, that we risk lives and the chance to get Covid19 under control?

A recent German study found that requiring children, and particularly adults, to wear face masks in schools can potentially decrease Covid19 outbreaks.

Amid this, there is a shortage of Covid19 tests, School staff say they feel "broken" by the demands for them to run testing schemes in secondary schools in England. Also, as they scramble to test pupils and staff, many teachers and students are trapped in isolation. Both Teacher and student absence has a statistically negative impact on both mental and educational development of a student. For a teacher, the stress can be career ending and is an increasing. issue. With this in mind, are the reasons for not having young people using masks really valid?

Following the announcement by France that they have made all School children, from age of 6, to use facemasks in shops and on public transport, we took to Twitter to see if people locally think we should follow this move, and do the sane.

The results where quite interesting when asked if we should also do this. The results where as follows:-

► Yes... 60.9%

► No... 32.8%

► Don't care... 3.1%

► Don't know... 3.1%

With case numbers climbing and the effects being felt both in education and in business, can we really afford not to take every simple control measure, before we are forced into lockdown. In order to control the spread of Omicron can we afford not to? Please email us your thoughts on this very controversial issues to our newsroom, at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com .
 

Bill Esterson MP describes lifetime achievement award for Doctor friend struck down by Covid as:- "richly deserved"

BILL Esterson MP has described a lifetime achievement award for his friend, NHS consultant Sanjeev Sharma, as:- "richly deserved." Mr Sharma, from Formby, who recently retired after suffering a debilitating stroke after catching Covid, received his Lifetime Achievement Award from Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust at an online ceremony broadcast to staff and their families.

The consultant surgeon's lifetime work in women's healthcare was recognised at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals' Annual Time to Shine Staff Awards. Sefton Central MP Mr Esterson said:- "I have known Sanjeev for many years and this award is richly deserved. Sanjeev has made a difference and in fact transformed the lives of hundreds of women in my constituency and beyond. He is highly regarded by all who worked with him and were cared for by him. I know there are many parents out there who feel they may never have been blessed with children had it not been for Sanjeev's care. They will certainly never forget the incredible impact he has had on their lives. He has done brilliant work over the years in women's healthcare. We were all shocked when Sanjeev caught Covid and became seriously ill while working on the front line of the Pandemic and we wish Sanjeev and his family all the very best for the future."

The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist joined what would become Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust in 1992 after being a senior registrar in Liverpool. Using his close links with the City, he developed a 1st class fertility service, at Ormskirk Hospital, that made dreams come true for many hundreds of couples.

Mr Sharma retired in the summer after being struck down with Covid19 in March 2020. Mr Sharma was left blind and with cognitive difficulties after suffering a stroke during a 5 month stay in Hospital. He joined the ceremony remotely with his wife Deepali. Their daughter Iona thanked his colleagues on behalf of the family.