

"Masks come in different materials, fittings and sizes which can be made more comfortable to wear," said Dr. Modifications to the traditional face covering can also be a possible solution. "To protect everyone from COVID-19, children should wear their face coverings when outside the home," she added. For children who may have difficulty understanding or tolerating their masks, I would encourage families to consult their pediatrician for support." Christine Thang, a pediatrician at Mattel Children's Hospital at University of California, Los Angeles, told ABC news: "Children with autism may have difficulty understanding why they need to wear a mask and may not like the texture of it against their face. It is also recommended by CDC that all children over the age of 2 wear a face covering when leaving the home.ĭr. "Wearing a mask 5-10 minutes inside the home can help desensitize the person and relieve any anxiety the patient might have," Rizzo added. "Kids with autism could potentially be gradually eased to the idea of wearing a mask," said Jose. Catherine Lord, a psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told ABC News that for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, wearing a mask "could be really difficult, as they often have strong reactions to different sensations."
#Anyone can wear the mask update
Doug Ducey speaks about the latest coronavirus update in Arizona and benefits of wearing a mask during a news conference in Phoenix.ĭr. Mona Degan, a primary care physician in Los Angeles who works with patients with asthma, told ABC News: "I do not see asthma as an impending factor, unless the person is in active acute respiratory distress - in which case going out in public is not advised."įILE - In this Thursday, July 9, 2020, photo, Arizona Republican Gov. In the U.S., the CDC advised everyone over the age of 2 to wear a mask in public unless they have trouble breathing or are unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.ĭr. Still, none of the conditions are listed as reasons for exemption.Įach country has implemented its own rules regarding masks. They say that masks may be difficult to wear for children, people with developmental challenges, mental illness, elderly persons with cognitive impairment, chronic respiratory problems and facial trauma or recent surgery. None of the disadvantages, however, are reasons for exemption.
#Anyone can wear the mask skin
They list these disadvantages as self-contamination from touching the mask and then the eyes, contamination if the mask gets wet and skin irritation or worsening acne when the mask is used for long hours. The WHO also acknowledges that wearing a face covering is not convenient and has some disadvantages.

MORE: Group behind fraudulent 'face mask exempt' cards pledges to keep distributing them, despite website takedown The WHO states that face masks of breathable material, worn properly, will not lead to health problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC have both issued statements advising people to wear face coverings in public in order to decrease the spread of COVID-19.

With multiple countries requiring masks to be worn in public, it is important to address the question: Do medical exemptions for face coverings really exist? The Freedom to Breathe Agency (FTBA), the group selling the cards online, is not a government organization, federal officials said, and these cards do not carry the force of law. Under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), I am not required to disclose my condition to you." Visitors walk past face mask signs along Decatur Street in the French Quarter on Jin New Orleans, Louisiana.Īs parts of the United States battle a surge in coronavirus cases, misleading posts and videos have been spreading on social media which show people claiming to be medically exempt from wearing a mask during the pandemic.Ĭertain "Face Mask Exemption Cards" are also circulating, claiming to exempt the person in possession of the card from wearing a mask due to underlying health conditions.Ī common mask exemption card - which has proven to be fake - reads: "Wearing a face mask poses a mental and/or physical risk to me.
