Changes

'''Mask mandates''' have been used by local, state, and national governments during the [[COVID-19]] pandemic as an alleged attempt to reduce direct, person-to-person transmission of the virus. However, typical surgical-style and fabric masks contain materials which are too coarse to trap viruses. Only masks made with fine materials, such as N95 masks are capable of blocking these viruses and the aerosols which tend to carry them. Unfortunately, N95 masks are also harder the breathe through<ref>https://abc7ny.com/n95-mask-cdc-recommendation-dr-rochelle-walensky-what-type-of-is-the-best/10092451/</ref>, and need to be carefully fitted to the wearer in order to be effective (which out of the box, they typically are not).<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/why-you-shouldnt-wear-n95-mask-when-traveling-2020-11</ref>

'''Mask mandates''' have been used by local, state, and national governments during the [[COVID-19]] pandemic as an alleged attempt to reduce direct, person-to-person transmission of the virus. However, typical surgical-style and fabric masks contain materials which are too coarse to trap viruses. Only masks made with fine materials, such as N95 masks are capable of blocking these viruses and the aerosols which tend to carry them. Unfortunately, N95 masks are also harder the breathe through<ref>https://abc7ny.com/n95-mask-cdc-recommendation-dr-rochelle-walensky-what-type-of-is-the-best/10092451/</ref>, and need to be carefully fitted to the wearer in order to be effective (which out of the box, they typically are not).<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/why-you-shouldnt-wear-n95-mask-when-traveling-2020-11</ref>

Florida Surgeon-General Dr. Joseph Ladapo has recommended that children not be forced to wear face masks in schools, noting that there is no clinical benefit to doing so.<ref>[https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/florida-surgeon-general-smacks-down-mask-mandates-for-kids-says-data-shows-no-clinical-benefit/ Florida surgeon general smacks down mask mandates for kids, says data shows no ‘clinical benefit’] at Life Site News</ref>  Ladapo's statement syncs with parents who have refused to make their children wear masks at school, backing their stance with data revealing that children are not at high risk from COVID-19, they do not spread the virus at any significant level and they may face physical and psychological damage from wearing face masks for long periods.<ref>[https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/children-and-covid19/ Children not a ‘vector of transmission’ of COVID-19, nor at risk from it themselves] at Life Site News</ref>

Florida Surgeon-General Dr. Joseph Ladapo has recommended that children not be forced to wear face masks in schools, noting that there is no clinical benefit to doing so.<ref>[https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/florida-surgeon-general-smacks-down-mask-mandates-for-kids-says-data-shows-no-clinical-benefit/ Florida surgeon general smacks down mask mandates for kids, says data shows no ‘clinical benefit’] at Life Site News</ref>  Ladapo's statement syncs with parents who have refused to make their children wear masks at school, backing their stance with data revealing that children are not at high risk from COVID-19, they do not spread the virus at any significant level and they may face physical and psychological damage from wearing face masks for long periods.<ref>[https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/children-and-covid19/ Children not a ‘vector of transmission’ of COVID-19, nor at risk from it themselves] at Life Site News</ref>

==Affects on children==

==Affects on children==

As Michael Curzon notes, all of these factors were exacerbated by lockdown measures which kept babies and young children away from other children, as well as mask mandates.  “Children born over the past year of lockdowns – at a time when the Government has prevented babies from seeing elderly relatives and other extended family members, from socialising at parks or with the children of their parent’s friends, and from studying the expressions on the faces behind the masks of locals in indoor public spaces – have significantly reduced verbal, motor and overall cognitive performance compared to children born before, according to a new U.S. study. Tests on early learning, verbal development and non-verbal development all produced results that were far behind those from the years preceding the lockdowns.”<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/12/children-born-during-pandemic-have-lower-iqs-us-study-finds</ref>

As Michael Curzon notes, all of these factors were exacerbated by lockdown measures which kept babies and young children away from other children, as well as mask mandates.  “Children born over the past year of lockdowns – at a time when the Government has prevented babies from seeing elderly relatives and other extended family members, from socialising at parks or with the children of their parent’s friends, and from studying the expressions on the faces behind the masks of locals in indoor public spaces – have significantly reduced verbal, motor and overall cognitive performance compared to children born before, according to a new U.S. study. Tests on early learning, verbal development and non-verbal development all produced results that were far behind those from the years preceding the lockdowns.”<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/12/children-born-during-pandemic-have-lower-iqs-us-study-finds</ref>

==See also==

==See also==