Infectious diseases expert weighs in on school mask advice

A paediatric infectious diseases physician says a mask mandate should be reintroduced in the short term to reduce the spread of the BA.5 Omicron subvariant.

Since last night, parents have been receiving letters “strongly recommending” children eight or older wear masks when in classrooms, but not mandating them.

Professor Robert Booy says he’d support a stricter approach.

“I think a mandate has its benefit in the short term,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“BA.5 is much more transmissible. It’s not killing as many people … but it is causing a lot of trouble.

“If we are to pull a few levers that are potentially effective, doable, then what happens is the vulnerable teachers, the vulnerable parents, grandparents, the vulnerable parent who happens to work in an aged care centre, if they’re not catching COVID from their kids we’re reducing community transmission.”

Press PLAY below to hear why Professor Booy would support a short-term mask mandate