By Olivia Condous
Victorian parents are scratching their heads after a letter from the state government was sent home in school bags this week, stating the wearing of face masks at school was “strongly recommended”.
A joint letter addressed to parents and carers from the Victorian Department of Education, Independent Schools Victoria and Catholic Education Commission of Victoria said they were asking all students over the age of eight and all staff to wear masks when in class from now to the end of winter.
The letter stated masks would not be required when outdoors or when participating in an activity that was limited by masks, such as playing music or sport.
“We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible,” the letter said.
Melton mother Lesa Fishlock said she supported mask-wearing in schools, as she was concerned about spreading the virus to the rest of her family.
“My father-in-law, he’s in his 90s and he’s quite frail now as he’s been sick this year, I cook tea for him and I take it to him every night so I can’t afford to get sick and give it to him,” she said.
Ms Fishlock said she found the letter sent to parents to be confusing and believed that masks should be made compulsory.
“Nearly every week we get a notification that the school is an exposure site,” she said.
Melton South parent Fran Schroder is the mother of two primary school children and said she would support a compulsory mask mandate.
“Even today’s case numbers and the deaths… it’s out of control,” Ms Shroder said.
“We’ve been warned in the past that the school could go back into closure,
“So for me, it’s a small sacrifice for them to be able to stay at school,” she said.
Ms Shroder’s daughter was born prematurely and consequently has health issues which could make her vulnerable to harsher COVID-19 symptoms.
“She would get very, very unwell… She’s already had pneumonia this year, she’s already had the flu and COVID is still such an unknown,” she said.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, deputy premier Jacinta Allan said the information in the letter was consistent with previous messaging from the government.
“The information that’s going out to schools today is entirely consistent with the advice that was released last week by the health minister to the broader Victoria community, which had that very strong recommendation to wear masks indoors where where you can and where appropriate,” Ms Allan said.
“These are the things that are going to continue to get us through what is going to be a difficult winter, we’re seeing that already.”
