STUDY: Effectiveness of Masks in Schools Unproven, DeSantis Right Again

January 12, 2022 Updated 2:52 P.M. ET

LONDON (FCV) – According to a review used by ministers in England, the use of masks in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is inconclusive. The review displayed that there is no significant statistical data to prove the impact of masks. 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has been outspoken against mandates in schools and has received backlash for it. In the study of 123 schools in England comparing the COVID-19 absences of the schools that used masks and those that did not, there was not a statistically significant difference. The lack of statistical difference shows that DeSantis is proven correct on masks in schools. 

Schools that used masks in October 2021 saw an absence reduction two to three weeks later of 5.3% to 3%, which is a drop of 2.3 percentage points. Similarly, schools that did not use masks had a reduction of COVID-19 absences of 5.3% to 3.6%, with 1.7 percentage points. 

Also, the review includes that masks could be harmful to learning environments. 94% of school leaders and teachers reported that face coverings made communication between teachers and students more difficult. 

As DeSantis has already gone against liberal “expert” advice on mandates, it is clear that the use of masks in schools has not been proven to decrease the spread of COVID-19 in schools.