When you remove the mask at the nursery school ... Expert "Both childcare and infection control" September 17, 5:00

While wearing masks at daycare sites to prevent infection with the new coronavirus, there was a voice from the field saying, "I can't see the childcare worker's mouth and facial expressions when I remember the words, and I'm worried that it might affect my growth." It's up.

Experts say, "I want you to judge the necessity of wearing a mask one by one according to the content of childcare, and try to balance childcare and infection control."

At the Nagaoka Eastern Nursery School in Nankoku City, Kochi Prefecture, all nursery teachers have been wearing masks since spring with an emphasis on infection control.



However, I feel that the childcare is affected by the fact that I cannot show the facial expressions and mouths of nursery teachers in various situations such as reading picture books.

Specifically, even if a nursery teacher talks to him, he may have a poor facial expression or a slow response.

For this reason, in the nursery school, some nursery teachers have begun trying to put on face shields in the class of 0-year-old children who feel that the influence of masks is particularly large, and the facial expressions of the children have come to life.



The nursery teacher said with joy, "I always looked at me with my eyes when I was wearing a mask, but with the face shield, I got a nice smile like never before." I did.

In addition, Dr. Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, a pediatrician and chairman of the Kochi Prefectural Infectious Disease Control Council, visited the site in response to a request from the nursery school on how to promote childcare so that masks do not affect the growth of children.



Dr. Yoshikawa, who listened to the voice of the nursery teacher and saw the scene, said, "If the nursery teacher's face remains invisible while wearing a mask, it may affect the growth of the child." If not wearing it is a higher priority in terms of childcare, it is unavoidable to take measures such as keeping a distance from the child and then removing the mask. Also, a face shield that covers the bottom of the chin. I want you to judge the necessity of wearing a mask one by one according to the content of childcare, such as by utilizing childcare, and try to balance childcare and infection control. "