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Science Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2
“Research supports that mask wearing has no significant adverse health effects for wearers.”
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The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network (March 2, 2021): Assessment of Respiratory Function in Infants and Young Children Wearing Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“…wearing surgical face masks for 30 minutes was not associated with changes in respiratory parameters or clinical signs of respiratory distress.”
“These findings suggest that the use of surgical masks among children may be promoted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, especially in view of the reopening of schools.”
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Benefits of kids wearing masks in school
“…there have been now numerous studies done. These studies have unequivocally shown that there are no negative health effects on children from wearing a mask.”
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World Health Organization (WHO): When and how to use masks/Q&A Children & Masks/Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Children and masks
“Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives”
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Johns Hopkins - Myths about Masks and Other Coronavirus Facial Coverings.
“MYTH: Masks don’t actually do anything to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
“MYTH: Wearing a cloth mask will make me sick because of carbon dioxide poisoning.
“MYTH: Wearing a cloth mask will make me sick because mold will build up in it.”
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US National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information
The impact of face masks on children—A mini review
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Fact Check-Masks do not expose children to dangerous levels of carbon dioxide
A compilation of research
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American Academy of Pediatrics: Mask Mythbusters: 5 Common Misconceptions about Kids & Cloth Face Coverings
“Can masks interfere with a child’s lung development? No”.
“Do masks trap the carbon dioxide that we normally breathe out? No.”
“Can masks lead to a weaker immune system by putting the body under stress? No.”
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University of Maryland Medical System
Kids and Masks
Penn State Children's Hospital
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released a research letter, published online, on 6/30/21. The letter stated: "Recent review concluded that there was ample evidence for adverse effects of wearing such masks." However, due to numerous issues with the study, JAMA retracted the research letter on 7/16/21.