Mandatory Masks Return to Secondary Schools
In a late addition to the raft of Covid restrictions announced by the Prime Minister yesterday, the Department for Education has issued new guidance today requiring secondary school students to wear masks in communal areas starting tomorrow. MailOnline has more.
The DfE sent an email update to schools and childcare providers which said: “Face coverings should be worn in communal areas in all settings by staff, visitors and pupils or students in Year 7 and above, unless they are exempt.
“Pupils or students (in Year 7 or above) should continue to wear face coverings on public and dedicated school transport, unless they are exempt.”
The update comes after the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) said an individual, who is longer in the country, tested positive for the Omicron variant after travelling to Westminster in London and the infection was “linked to travel to southern Africa”.
Worth reading in full.
I wonder why this wasn’t announced yesterday? Is it because the Government knew it would play badly in the Sunday newspapers and on the Sunday morning talk shows? It has essentially sneaked the news out late on Sunday.
Needless to say, it makes zero sense. After all, if the Omicron variant is actually less dangerous than the Delta variant – and all the evidence we’ve amassed about it so far suggests it is – then shouldn’t we be encouraging schoolchildren to catch it so they can then experience a mild, cold-like illness and thereafter enjoy better protection against COVID-19 than if they’d been vaccinated? That is, the small number of schoolchildren who haven’t already caught and recovered from the virus?
As a parent of three children who will have to wear masks in school tomorrow, I am livid.
Stop Press: Those refusing to wear masks in shops and on public transport face being fined £200, rising to £400 for a second offence – the same penalty system as before. The Telegraph has more.
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More idiotic knee jerking…
This seems more of a plan, unfortunately. How long before ‘Alas, we didn’t want to bring in vaccine passports but …’?
Nothing knee-jerk about it. Children are also victims of this terror campaign. Those responsible were never going to leave them out of it. This is war.
Governments have always oppressed their own citizens but Johnson and his gang are taking things to a new level.
Exempt your children.
I will not be wearing a mask.
I have an exemption lanyard for emergencies to avoid abuse.
It is certainly an “omnicon”
Take your lanyard off. It’s an acceptance of their rules.
Pick your battles.
I have never worn and won’t wear a lanyard.
But if someone asked for the exempt card, I’ll just show it.
Nah. Exempt is the word Juliet Bravo.
Using their hexes plays to their strategy. Don’t play.
If someone asks, you tell them to mind their own bloody business. If they are deputed to ask under rules made by Johnson’s criminal government then simply tell them you are exempt. That’s all they are entitled to know.
screw the fines, I wont pay they will have to jail me, oh I forgot I am very much used to it after 2 years.
BTW isn’t the injection mandatory for all prisoners and visitors? perhaps thats their plan to stick the tracker into all of us
If they ask, say that you are exempt. If they ask for ‘proof’ or demand to know why you are exempt, tell them that you are under no obligation to tell them, they should not be asking, and that you will complain to their employer (and do so).
What seemed to be happening last time was that if you complained the company would say that it wasn’t their policy and it wouldn’t happen again – but of course it did. So either they have no control over their staff (which seems unlikely), or it was a case of maintaining deniability – which frankly seems much more likely.
I gave in and got a lanyard after a few months of it last time, but not wearning it again. If they want an argument they can have one!
I don’t wear it. I have it in my pocket.
A woman in my town was assaulted for being mask-less in the co-op.
I don’t want to have a bottle smashed in my face and will wave a lanyard to avoid that(!)
That’s awful, but if they try and assault me it will end very badly for them. I refuse to comply with this bs
Will they face a backlash? 😊
Anyone prepared to assault a woman for being ‘maskless’ is unlikely to be able to read a lanyard.
I suspect the sort of tossers who behave like that wouldn’t try it with someone who was bigger than them – most bullies are cowards.
Completely agree. Never worn a mask, never worn a lanyard.
Well said.
I agree, but are you the parent of teenagers? Their biggest fear is to stand out. My children know masks are nonsense. They hate them. I never wear one and try to model logical thought and freedom from fear.
Yet they wear them at school and will not agree to be exempted (I’ve offered to write to the head teachers)
Do the decent thing and withdraw them from such a hostile environment.
It’s not that simple.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
Our son of 15 took some real convincing as he also didn’t want to stand out. But he eventually agreed and I exempted him without even dignifying their request to know why. What sad and outrageous times we live in.
How did you exempt him? Just curious as, without any actual medical conditions or special needs, is it not difficult to get a doctor to agree to that?
You do not need a Doctor to exempt you. YOu simply have to state you have an exemption. The Law states that an exemption is a reasonable reason not to wear a mask and that may be something like wearing them makes you stressful or whatever. Nobody has the right under the Law to ask what your exemption is. You need carry no proof of an exemption.
Ah ok. It’s different here in the Netherlands. I’m chasing doctors to exempt my daughter. One’s on holiday and I’m waiting on the other to return my call. We can’t just go ahead and exempt them here ourselves. It’s the same strictness for adults. You need a legit medical reason.
Where do you get a doctor to consult these days? Aren’t they all too busy saving the NHS?
Throw the lanyard away, it is a form of compliance and completely unnecessary. You cannot be asked what your exemption is. The Law states you have to have a reasonable excuse. Illegal, unjust, unproven, undemocratic, obscene, human rights breaking Laws seems good enough to me. I have been asked about a mask twice in total and simply said “I have an exemption”. Simply be polite.
No, in short. Never know when it might come in useful. I got asked to show it on a bus once and did so, whilst explaining that legally I don’t have to show it (I’m not sure he was convinced). No guarantee I’d have been allowed on the bus without it, whatever the rights and wrongs of it.
Agree with you. One problem, for at least 20 months now, what is legal, illegal makes not the slightest difference to those currently enforcing their diktats on the masses. The Law as the last resort and safety net has, the only safe haven remaining has also been corrupted beyond all recognition.
The law belongs to whoever holds the key to the door, has the loudest voice, and biggest guns.
I think this one is a tough concept for people to accept. Our laws are supposed to protect us. It can be a very helpless feeling, indeed. But you are correct, and I don’t think TPTB would launch this operation if they didn’t have control of the legal systems of the world.
Already done. Hopefully lots more will do the same this time.
Uber super variant “omnicon”
Behind this is obviously that the BoJo non-government again uses the general public as pawn which can readily be sacrificed in order to pacify union officials. A Tory non-government, mind you.
The (and I hate myself for thinking it) optimistic interpretation is that they want to be seen to be doing something for the bedwetters, whilst not really doing anything.
Unfortunately for them, the bed wetters already vote for the opposition and those they are imposing any ridiculous restrictions on will likely never vote for them again after these past 2 years.
All he needed was a backbone and some honest science. Unless it’s not a cock up I guess Toby?
The problem with this calculation is that it doesn’t work out: The people who are in favour of this will pressure for it to be extendend to the maximum amount possible step by step. Just as they’ve been doing all the time.
So? Fuck them.
Get a spine.
Get a grip on reading comprehension.
Do not insult Tories by claiming this non-Government is Tory – in no way, shape or form is it Tory. It is Fascist. It is Communistic. It has elements of Marxism. There is no Tory in it.
The “not the Conservative party”, as Christopher Booker said years ago (and that was before they abandoned fiscal conservatism). Far removed from their base. I can see either a new party challenging or some Tory equivalent to Corbyn if they go on like this.
Reform will be making massive head roads into their vote in my view. Richard Tice is standing at the forthcoming by-election and he is reporting very favourable responses from people on the doorstep (a Tory area) who are mostly saying they are not happy at all with this non-Government. It should be an interesting result and Farage is talking about making a comeback to the front line as well.
Sounds like he has good reason to, the Channel’s a disgrace, and vaxports are beyond the pale for him. However, for him – and for me – GB News is important. People can say there’s only Neil Oliver who criticises the “vaccines” – even if this is true, it’s probably one more than many media outlets. Definitely a step in the right direction. Mark Steyn, who I remember from years ago, is also good (he once quipped that in his gun owning part of the States, he always left his car keys in the ignition at night so that he’d know w here to find them – apparently thieves would travel to areas without many guns)..
I’m hoping reform get a decent percentage of the vote. If so people may see them as a viable party to vote for.
It’s what they call themselves
When was there ever a real Conservative party? Long ago someone (Evelyn Waugh, I think) complained that for all the talk of the Tories putting the clock back, they had never managed to put it back a single second, or even hold it still.
An occupying power, not a government.
Americans bear arms to protect themselves against each other but mainly against their own government.
I wish we had them.
I’m going with the ex coppers advice in the Tele comments. Refuse to say anything if actually unlucky enough to get stopped by the police.
I’m only carrying cash and my phone (pin code lock only) and in the extremely unlikely event will not identify myself. Work know if I don’t show up for 48 hours not to call looking for me. Refuse to answer questions in the station, court, and pay no fines. Time to gum up the system, enough is enough.
“” Under what authority do you stop me”
“Do you have a warrant”
Am I under arrest?
Am I free to leave?
Rinse and repeat
“As a parent of three children who will have to wear masks in school tomorrow, I am livid.”
OK. well at the very least, demand a copy of their risk assessment – the judgement regarding Child AB vs Tapton School last year quite clearly stated:
“The Court also noted that the school had not provided enough evidence to find it had conducted a full risk assessment or that it was sufficient. Neither the government nor the school has assessed the risk of physical or psychological harms from wearing masks throughout almost all the school day (in classrooms, in corridors and on public transport) and the Court acknowledged the detailed evidence of those harms by Chartered Health and Safety Practitioner, Ms Simone Plaut and Clinical Psychologist, Dr Zenobia Storah.”
https://fos-sa.org/?p=4477
The same could be said for the entire government approach to Covid since day one. No risk assessment ever.
That decision re. Tapton Trust is fascinating – simply because it has received so little publicity.
Sorry Toby, if you don’t tell your children to exempt themselves, you’re a spineless person, and very much complicit in this child abuse.
That’s below the belt considering how much Toby has put himself in the firing line over the last 18 months.
Sorry but what he does or doesn’t tell his children is neither yours or my business.
Seconded. We are all under pressure and comments like that do not help.
Thirded! A house divided against itself cannot stand and that’s why we should pull together rather than apart.
I’m just glad to see Toby expressing some anger over what this government are doing to our children. Although we shouldn’t be telling the children to self-exempt, I think every parent should have the conversation with their school aged offspring that self-exemption is an option for them, and explain why.
Endorsed by me 100%
All in favour? Passed at time of typing Ayes 89, downticks 3 – the ayes have it, the ayes have it
We are pulling together? By saying none of our children will be wearing the dirty rags
Yes. I agree too. We can’t beat up people because they don’t agree entirely.
Given the age of his children, I don’t think they will listen to him anyway. They will just want to fit in with their friends, unless they are extraordinarily independent minded.
Even I would have acquiesced at school, I suspect despite being in constant low level trouble for attitude etc.
You are incredibly naive if you think that this is easy for children or parents. And I write as one who is horrified by the child abuse it implies. Windy virtue-signalling solves nothing.
Masks are so 2020. I never wore one then, I won’t wear one now. Especially not for a Moronic virus.
Ditto!
I agree. I’m now going to try the “I’m exempt “ strategy.
Ill report back how that goes down.
This is really stressing me out. I thought we’d escaped most of this madness and now they’re re-introducing it. So much for the ‘irreversible’ pledge. Now they’ve re-introduced masks they’ll just keep extending them to more situations.
Ironically all these mandates and restrictions have actually given me a valid reason not to mask up as the thought of having to wear one literally freaks me out!
But the fines are the last straw. I have an exemption lanyard but I won’t be getting much use out of it as I’ll just have to stop going shopping until the mandates are removed. It’s just not worth the stress and hassle. I did it before, so I’ll do it again.
I have an eye test next week but I’ll probably cancel that as I won’t wear a mask, and I’ll tell them exactly why I’m cancelling. They’ll lose several hundred pounds of business from me due to these mandates.
You won’t make a difference by sitting at home cowed.
Hit the shops and trains just as normal, thereby, rub it in their face, stand out.
THAT will make a difference.
You have nothing to fear but that fear itself, especially so as any Brit has this get-out-of-jail-free card in the form of the self-exemption.
I have never had an unpleasant encounter doing so, just a lot of satisfaction.
The best one was in Bicester Village, where me and Mrs Bee were the only unmasked, free people out of thousands.
I’ll probably go there again now, just to upset them.
My thoughts exactly. I’m at the point where I actually want to be seen maskless, smiling and unafraid, even when it’s ‘mandatory’
Chill SJR, remember the Nudge….
They do it when you’re least suspecting.
Oh yeah, I forgot all about it being irreversible.
@SJR – Pick your battles carefully. Don’t let the enemy pick them for you.
Of course you’re right. Nihil Illigitemi Carborundum!
The really courageous ones could refuse to wear a mask and also cough a lot. 😀👍
Shall simply dust off the ‘exempt’ schtick.
It has been quite clear for weeks that the muzzle mandarins were itching like crazy to reintroduce masks. The moronic variant gave them the ideal opportunity despite no logical reason.
Unfortunately the ‘Michie Magic’ seems to have worked.
Michiemania..?
Some people need little incentive to demean themselves. In the crowded pub this lunch time, a middle aged woman was sat in the corner with a floral face covering, which she lowered only to sip her drink. She was with three others, all were unmasked. People like her are the hopeless cases that may literally be the death of all of us.
They created the ‘new variant’ just as they will the next time they want to keep us in our hutches.
Yet again the fine threat is brandished. Just as last time, it won’t happen.
Yes, it’s smoke and mirrors, isn’t it? The “exemption” exists because they can’t legally force it yet. They try to make us think they can.
From Robin Monotti:
Children and masks. I don’t think that debating the science works. The three paths in my view are:
1. Asserting your child’s human right to refuse consent to a preventive medical intervention such as a mask under Article 6 of the UNESCO Universal Declaration of Bioethics & Human Rights 2005:
https://t.me/robinmg/12001
2. Claiming medical exemption.
3. Quoting the previous UK court decision that ruled a school can’t unconditionally request a child to wear a face mask, the condition is always that the child needs to consent to the request, if they don’t consent the school can’t do anything about it legally:
https://t.me/robinmg/2986
The Telegraph article already says in the headline that they expect huge non-compliance this time.
Let’s prove them right.
Observing what’s happened in London buses and the tube over the last few months, at least half the people know the spiel by now and are aware of the self-exemption option.
There is therefore ZERO reason or justification for them to now change their habit in that regard again.
The fine size repetition and the omission of the exemption option in the media is just a nudge and shall also deliberately create even more division.
F*ck them.
So an “individual” travelled to Westminster who is “no longer in the country”. Why would the particular borough of London be mentioned unless someone is hinting at something?
Would they say “An individual travelled to Merton” or “An individual travelled to Wandsworth”? Of course they wouldn’t.
Got tested and then scooted to an airport, did the “individual”? Are any of the person’s contacts under quarantine yet?
Legal eagles may be aware that certain “individuals” who hang out a lot in Westminster cannot be made subject to mandatory quarantine, although they can be required to leave the country.
I also noted that. Ha.
“As a parent of three children who will have to wear masks in school tomorrow, I am livid.”
Alternatively you could write them letters of exemption and teach them the value of standing up for their freedoms.
I live in Scotland, where the mask mandate in shops etc. was never lifted. Although I don’t keep a record I always look at how many people are unmasked in supermarkets, and my impression is that until a week ago up to 25% of people would be unmasked. However in the last few days it has been very hard to spot another unmasked person. Admittedly this isn’t a all scientific, and may just be random variation, but does seem to suggest that a lot of people are still scared of covid and it only takes a couple of headlines to get them to change their behaviour. Clearly it will take a long time to undo the effects of 20 months, and counting, of project fear which I expect will continue for another year or more to nudge people into getting 2nd/3rd/4th etc. doses of the vaccine.
I don’t think you can really tell who wears a mask not to stand out and who is scared of covid (and indeed for whom it is a bit of both). I think there is a world of difference between those who actively comply and those who just do it to get along. I’m sure there will be more of the latter this time round.
My hope is that fewer people comply.
I challenge these morons a lot, and I think the vast majority are genuinely terrified. Some seem to have been recently snapping out of it and it will be interesting to see how this feeble moronic variant propaganda affects them. You know, I used to be a relatively timid person. Now that I’ve seen what utter cowards the public are, I walk taller and (I know this isn’t healthy) I feel superior to them. I want to help them but I am never again going to be able to look at them with respect. I had previously thought that the people around me were fellow intelligent beings, but now I know that they are mostly just like animals, controlled by primal instincts. I know the powers that be are responsible for the brain washing, but still it is shocking to see how instincts override higher-thought in these husks of people. Was this always the way or have their brains been damaged over the past couple of decades by mindless TV, anti-logic wokeness, and arsebook?
Just need to say I fully understand where you’re coming from. It’s extremely demoralizing to know so many are just unthinking, reactive sheep.
You guys don’t need that poison dwarf as Prime Minister, you need Mel Gibson.
I’m always staggered by how many brain-dead zombies I see wearing them outdoors here! I mean, the mandate applies to indoors which means so many are actually *choosing* to wear them outdoors, signalling just how deranged and anti-science they are! I actually find it triggering now when I go to the city centre. I find myself giving them filthy looks. And if I see kids masked up outside I don’t think I’ll be able to restrain myself! It’s not even majority oldies but very much younger people too. The psy-op was a big success clearly! 🙁 Today my daughter wanted to go to KFC, where I knew we wouldn’t be allowed to sit in due to me not having a vax pass. The counter is 3 steps from the entrance and the person on the door is scanning people’s passes in a very quiet restaurant and she tells me I can’t come in to accompany my 10yr old so she can choose some food to take away. I have to give my bank card to my kid to pay for her food herself. Told the woman how bloody stupid this all is but behind her mask it was hard to… Read more »
BBC look east asking are these restrictions going to be enough to save Christmas.
What is the matter with these people?
Following orders..
Agreed.
Id love a whistleblower to emerge with the truth.
With the situation as it is at the moment, they wouldn’t be heard. That’s the level of corruption we’re facing, cowardice too..
And give up the six-figure salary, expenses and pension, as well as a sinecure where you don’t have to think?
Get real.
Am I alone in thinking that the new mask mandates might have a special restriction as concerns the ‘unjabbed’ Nothing would surprise me from this evil government, who obviously have their strings pulled by the globalists.
Not heard of it.
I did hear the language regarding masks in schools was “strongly encouraged” as opposed to required.
I work in a school. I am a Grandparent. These people in charge are NOT hapless Are NOT bungling Are Not making accidental mistakes as lockdown sceptics describe. This is in fact criminal negligence and worse because they know masks don’t work.
So please call it accurately… criminal !
Damn right.. and anyone, especially children with their developing brains, are being harmed. Those pushing this once again know it too.
We’ll said
Children wearing masks damages their socialization and will psychologically scar them for life. In all the insanity in Australia (mostly just in Victoria) one positive thing is that children have never been required to wear masks (except in Victoria).
While the MSM condemns the use of ivermectin, the most populated state in India just declared they are officially COVID free after promoting widespread use of the safe, proven medicine. In addition to this, Ivermectin attaches to covid spikes and prevents them from binding to ACE2. Get your Ivermectin today while you still can! https://ivmpharmacy.com
I got mine from IndiaMart. 30c a 12mg tablet. As Brett Weinstein has said, the virus could have been wiped out with the use of Ivermectin. Instead we have the leaky vaccines breeding variants.
Point or order, the muzzle penalties are not “fines”. Fines are issued by a court.
These are fixed penalties, which are blackmail demands that you can pay to admit guilt, but avoid a day in court and potentially higher actual fines.
Don’t grant the Corona Cops more power than they actually have. We don’t (quite, yet) have Judge Dredd stalking around handing out Iso-Cube sentences without appeal.
“As a parent of three children who will have to wear masks in school tomorrow, I am livid.” Just email the school Toby, tell them they’re all exempt. NO MASKS, NO TESTS, NO ‘VACCINES’. NON-COMPLIANCE FROM NOW ON!
Needless to say, it makes zero sense.
Making sense over Covid has never really concerned Johnson and the other criminals in his wretched government.
This is a natural experiment though. The data for secondary school children is available. There needs to be a material deviation in the rate of change from Tuesday onwards.
So let’s look for it. And then write it up properly if and when it arrives.
But most particularly if it doesn’t.
Straight for the child abuse again
Comments section on The Telegraph site is awash with “No way am I wearing a mask Peppa!”. Is sanity finally reasserting itself? I read two comments out of maybe a hundred which were in favour and they got shot to bits in seconds.
I fully expect “People aren’t complying so we have to bring in vaccine passports, so sad, blah blah, didn’t want to, lie, lie”. Followed by a xmas Eve announcement of a lockdown. Thinking about it, they’ll announce the lockdown 2 days after Xmas recess of Parliament.
(They won’t be allowed to refer to “Christmas” if they do. 🙂 )
Once the non compliance starts it will snowball. The government have made a huge mistake and I thing they will realise that very quickly. They’ll then have a choice between backing down and doubling down. Both will lead to their demise.
According to the bbc it is advised https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-59452502
Ordinarily I’m sure parents wouldn’t permit their children to go anywhere near a school practicing any kind of abuse, yet I’m equally sure many will go along with this sort, despite it being completely omicrom. Mass disobedience is the only way now…….across the board.