Saturnin, conspiracy scientist, medic buster
2022-01-15 22:02:29 UTC
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59895934
Covid: Evidence on face masks in schools 'inconclusive'
The government admits the evidence for using masks in schools to reduce
spread of Covid is "not conclusive".
The uncertainty is acknowledged in a review used by ministers in England
to make their decision to introduce face coverings in classrooms.
The government's own study in the autumn did not provide proof of a
statistically significant impact.
The evidence review says other studies have provided mixed results, but
taken together suggest they may help.
And the move was backed by the UK Health Security Agency.
The review has only just been published following the announcement on
Monday about the return of face coverings in classrooms.
It includes the results of a study in 123 schools in England which used
masks and compared that to others that did not during the Delta wave of
Covid. The UK is currently experiencing the spread of an even more
infectious variant - Omicron - but there is not enough data yet on this
one and masks.
Schools where face coverings were used in October 2021 saw a reduction
two to three weeks later in Covid absences from 5.3% to 3% - a drop of
2.3 percentage points.
In schools which did not use face coverings absences fell from 5.3% to
3.6% - a fall of 1.7 percentage points.
It said this was not statistically significant and the greater reduction
in schools where masks were worn could be down to chance.
The review also acknowledges the use of face coverings could harm learning.
...
Covid: Evidence on face masks in schools 'inconclusive'
The government admits the evidence for using masks in schools to reduce
spread of Covid is "not conclusive".
The uncertainty is acknowledged in a review used by ministers in England
to make their decision to introduce face coverings in classrooms.
The government's own study in the autumn did not provide proof of a
statistically significant impact.
The evidence review says other studies have provided mixed results, but
taken together suggest they may help.
And the move was backed by the UK Health Security Agency.
The review has only just been published following the announcement on
Monday about the return of face coverings in classrooms.
It includes the results of a study in 123 schools in England which used
masks and compared that to others that did not during the Delta wave of
Covid. The UK is currently experiencing the spread of an even more
infectious variant - Omicron - but there is not enough data yet on this
one and masks.
Schools where face coverings were used in October 2021 saw a reduction
two to three weeks later in Covid absences from 5.3% to 3% - a drop of
2.3 percentage points.
In schools which did not use face coverings absences fell from 5.3% to
3.6% - a fall of 1.7 percentage points.
It said this was not statistically significant and the greater reduction
in schools where masks were worn could be down to chance.
The review also acknowledges the use of face coverings could harm learning.
...
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