COVID-19 and Children Wearing a Mask

Masks are one of the most important defenses against the spread of the virus. If all people are masked, the risk of infection is less. Mask wearing along with washing hands, disinfecting surfaces, and physical distancing all done together are the best way to prevent COVID-19 infection.

According to the CDC, all children who are over the age of 2 and capable of removing a mask on their own can wear a mask safely. In Ohio, children must wear a mask unless there is a medical reason not to or they are under the age of 2 and not capable of removing a mask on their own.

The scientific consensus is that wearing a mask is not harmful to a patient’s ability to breathe. In healthy individuals it does not cause a decrease in oxygen levels or a dangerous increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood or brain. If your child has a lung-related disease, ask your child’s doctor if it’s okay for them to wear a mask.

A face shield is not recommended as a replacement for a mask by the CDC and, according to the CDC, is not as effective as wearing a mask, since most face shields do not block droplets from entering or leaving the sides or bottom of the face shield. Face shields worn in addition to a face mask may offer additional protection to the wearer, since the shield protects the eyes as well.

According to the CDC, children under the age of two should not wear a mask. Very few children aged two or older are exempt from wearing a mask under the current Ohio guidelines. Children who may qualify for an exemption include those with a severe anxiety disorder, sensory integration disorder, or severe behavioral health disorder such as some children with severe pervasive developmental disorder or autism. Children with asthma usually will be able to wear a mask. Children with severe respiratory impairments may have difficulty tolerating a mask, particularly for extended periods, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. If your child has a lung-related disease, ask your child’s doctor if it’s okay for them to wear a mask. For those children exempt from wearing a mask, every attempt should be made to have them wear a face shield and to maintain physical distancing from other people.