The mask mandate imposed on campuses and educational institutions across Taiwan will be relaxed on Monday, enabling students to attend classes indoors without masks for the first time in over 800 days.
According to Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (???), the continued drop in Taiwan’s COVID-19 cases, even after the 228 Memorial Day extended weekend, means that the relaxing of the mask mandate in schools will go ahead as planned on March 6.
Starting Monday, students will be allowed to decide whether or not to wear a face mask in classrooms, as the mandatory mask rules are eased in schools at all levels, kindergartens, preschools, afterschool institutions and cram schools.
However, students will still have to wear masks inside campus-health centers and when taking school buses and shuttle buses, according to the CECC.
Meanwhile, Chang Hsin-wu (???), president of Taiwan’s Secondary and Elementary Principals’ Association, said in an earlier interview with CNA that masks should also be worn on campuses at mass assembly events and when getting food.
Students, members of faculty and other staff may still choose to keep their masks on at all times and their right to do so should be respected, Chang said.
He explained that there are many reasons an individual might want to keep wearing a facemask, such as flu-prevention, concerns over air quality, being unvaccinated, and even self confidence related personal anxiety.
Concerns have been raised by some local parents over the so-called “appearance anxiety” and a possible increase of bullying incidents when students remove their facemasks.
Chang said he believes it will take some time for students to get used to not wearing a mask, since they have had to do so for more than two years.
Regarding the alleged concerns of parents, he said schools have been advised to strengthen calls for “mutual respect,” asking students to refrain from forcing classmates to either take off or wear masks.
Chang Tzyh-chyang (???), director of Taiwan’s Occupational Therapists Union, said Sunday that there have been no reports of serious cases of appearance anxiety or bullying at workplaces since people in Taiwan were allowed to be mask-free in most indoor settings from Feb. 20.
Nevertheless, he advised schools to still be prepared for the possibility of such incidents at campuses now that the mask mandate is soon to be eased in schools.
The expert offered students several suggestions to help calm their anxiety if they feel uneasy about not having to wear a mask, including trying to focus on their personal strengths and spending time more with relatives and friends to build up their self-esteem.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel