Millions of Indian children, including our six-year-olds, lost out on almost two years of their childhood and education because schools were closed for in-person classes. Schools are now open but subject to compulsory masking and in some cases, over-enthusiastic mandatory masking for age groups such as 5 to 11 years for whom it should be optional.

It is time to #UnmaskOurKids and #MakeMasksOptional because:

1. In March 2020, restrictions including masking made sense because COVID-19 was an unknown disease. Two years later, we know that school-age children are at a very low risk of severe COVID-19 as compared to adults. Masks may mitigate risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission; however, continuous masking can also be harmful for children’s development needs.

2. Mandatory masking for children in school without considering age group, environment, and community transmission levels is completely against global guidance (e.g., WHO, UNICEF, European Center for Disease Control, Indian Ministry of Health & Family Welfare).

3. COVID-19 restrictions need to be balanced against the need to provide children with an optimal learning and social environment. Masks have costs: children can’t understand teachers or each other; special needs children are suffering; young children may not develop emotional skills without facial cues; and children are finding it difficult to make connections.

4. We are in the midst of summer and monsoons. In severe heat and humidity, our children’s masks are becoming moist environments suitable for growth of bacteria and fungi close to their noses and mouths.

5. Experts in India and abroad have recommended lifting of mask mandates. Many countries and cities such as Mumbai have done exactly that.

Put Children First

1. The risk of severe/fatal COVID-19 in India for all age groups is currently low. Our six-year-olds, like many others, haven’t seen school for two years and no one at school has seen their smiles since school opened.

2. Our children are enduring the longest social lockdown among all age groups, despite being at lowest risk. No adult will openly admit that they find it tough to #MaskLikeAKid all day. Our children have borne the maximum burden and brunt of COVID restrictions. Enforcement of mask mandate is weak in most settings, however, schoolchildren are powerless and are forced to comply. It is hypocritical for adults to force low-risk and voiceless children to hide their smiles, emotions, and airways behind masks for several hours in school

3. Therefore, we request and urge the Union, State and UT Governments as well as the ICMR and national and state disaster management authorities to urgently remove mask mandates for all children. Anyone who wants or needs to use a mask is free to do so.

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