There is "no scientific basis" to oppose face masks for children, said Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke in the Chamber, adding that those problems have been exaggerated.
At the end of 2021, the Consultative Committee announced that children from 6 years old would have to wear a face mask at school, among other places, to reduce the risk of infections – a decision that was heavily criticised.
"It is indeed uncomfortable and we should not stretch it unnecessarily, but there is no scientific basis for the opposition," Vandenbroucke said on Tuesday afternoon, adding that potential disadvantages have been overestimated.
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"I do not know of any serious study that mentions serious disadvantages for children," he said.
On Monday, Flemish Youth Minister Benjamin Dalle called on the Consultative Committee to lift the mask obligation for children as soon as possible, and preferably as early as Friday, as he said it has a detrimental impact on children's learning process and development.
However, Vandenbroucke said on Tuesday that the long debate about masks led to a lot of wasted time before implementing them. "We were too late with that measure. Possibly, that has led to additional infections in other age groups."
