Dan Andrews slammed over stupid mask rule that is impacting children the most

Thousands of parents have joined infectious diseases experts in slamming the Victorian government’s ‘silly’ and ‘illogical’ mask mandates for children. 

While almost all mask rules were scrapped for adults at the beginning of March, primary school kids in Grades 3 to 6 are still forced to wear masks while at school. 

Victorian chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton defended the decision saying it would ‘put downward pressure on transmission’. 

While Premier Dan Andrews added the decision was made because vaccination rates in kids aged 5-11 were slow compared to the rest of the population. 

Most mask rules were lifted for adults in Victoria earlier in March but school kids still have to wear them five days a week (pictured: Port Melbourne College) 

‘You’ve got to draw the line somewhere… it’s much harder to get a little kid in prep or (Grade) 1 and 2 to wear their mask than it is for kids who are a bit older,’ Mr Andrews said, 

Deputy Premier James Merlino joined in too, saying his kids had ‘gotten used’ to wearing masks at school.

But on Tuesday, former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth retweeted  a post from mental health advocacy group Shadow Pandemic in which they polled thousands of parents who had a very different view.

‘Mr Merlino your job is to represent constituents… we polled 20,000 parents and teachers to ask if their kids mind being masked all day five days a week, you are well out of touch,’ the group said.

‘That’s a ridiculous statement, they shouldn’t be used to wearing masks,’ one parent said. 

‘How absurd, of course they mind. My son’s glasses are always fogging up because of the mask. And let’s consider how much communication is being missed by covering up everyone’s speech and facial expressions,’ a second said. 

‘They can’t see their friends or teachers smiling at them, and there’s no scientific evidence behind it,’ added a third.  

Dr Coatsworth retweeted a post of mental health advocacy group Shadow Pandemic (pictured) 

Some of the thousands of messages received from parents and teachers against the mask rules (pictured)

The comments echo sentiments of respected medical experts who also disagreed with the mask rule for children. 

‘I continue to be definite. No masks for primary school students,’ Dr Coatsworth himself previously said.

Meanwhile infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon said the rule made no sense when masks are not required for adults. 

‘The biggest spreading events come from bars, pubs and clubs but they don’t wear masks,’ he said. 

‘It’s good news that younger children are now exempt (from masks) but it really should be all primary school children.’

Dr Coatsworth (pictured) and other health experts have said the mask rules for kids don’t make sense

Emma McBryde, James Cook University professor of infectious diseases modelling agreed saying she ‘can see no genuine reason’ for keeping the mask rules for kids.

‘I would recommend they draw the line at no schoolchildren needing to wear masks anymore,’ she told The Herald Sun. 

‘It’s a silly measure to keep a small cohort of young children wearing masks. It almost feels as though they can’t let go of control. To me, there’s no genuine rationale of it.’

While Werribee GP Joe Garra said the rule was ‘illogical’ because the risk of Omicron for children was extremely low and masks ‘shouldn’t be mandated for kids to protect adults’.

The controversial mask rule will be reviewed at the end of the school term before the Easter holiday.