Children & Masks/Face Coverings

Recently, recommendations from guiding agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) and the PA Department of Health (DOH), have recommended universal masking/face coverings in schools. The information below speaks to the science of masks and how they safely mitigate transmission of coronavirus under the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Please take a moment to view the information.  If you would like to contribute other findings, reach out to us at webmaster@pvsd.org.

About Masks

PBS

Does your kid really need a mask?

Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Why are people wearing masks?

Research & Information

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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JAMA

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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MAYO CLINIC

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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WHO

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

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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PMC/NCB

US National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information

The impact of face masks on children—A mini review
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REUTERS FACT CHECK

Fact Check-Masks do not expose children to dangerous levels of carbon dioxide

A compilation of research
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AAP

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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UMMS

University of Maryland Medical System
Kids and Masks

PENN Live

Penn State Children's Hospital

JAMA - Retraction

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.