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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Is there evidence that asking children to wear masks at school reduces the spread of the coronavirus?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
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YES

While evidence remains limited, several studies from around the U.S. and from other countries link mask requirements for schoolchildren to lower rates of coronavirus transmission. An analysis of Florida schools observed higher rates of transmission in districts without mandatory masking policies.

The evidence has led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to advise that universal masking is effective, especially when physical distancing is not possible. The agency recommends that all children two years and older wear masks. Cloth masks have not been found to produce adverse health effects in children, as long as they do not live with physical or mental conditions that could be exacerbated by wearing masks.

The CDC recently altered its advice for wearing masks in uncrowded outdoor settings, but continues to stress the importance of wearing masks in indoor settings.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Science brief: Transmission of the coronavirus in K-12 schools
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Help stop the spread of COVID-19 in children
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance for wearing masks
The Conversation Kids need to wear masks when they go to school in person, and parents can help them get the hang of that
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.