Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth says he’s “worried” about the continuing mask mandate in WA schools – declaring it’s “a problem for learning”.

Education Minister Sue Ellery this week confirmed that while some restrictions are lifting, masks will remain a requirement in the classroom next term, for Years 3 and above.

But Dr Coatsworth told Perth LIVE, it’s posing a different sort of risk for students.

“There’s some evidence – but it’s not very good evidence – that masks might work in schools, but there’s an almost equal number of studies out there that suggest it doesn’t work,” he told Oliver Peterson.

“What this means practically, is when you’ve got lots of Omicron circulating in the community, people get it in the community as well as in schools.”

Press PLAY to hear Dr Nick Coatsworth’s full interview on Perth LIVE

Dr Coatsworth says, there’s no evidence to suggest schools are any greater places of transmission than in the wider community.

“So it makes no sense to have that sort of restriction in the school, where other restrictions are being lifted in the community – there’s no benefit,” he said.

“So then you’ve got to look at what’s the risk side, is there a plausible risk to having kids in masks in the classroom for a significant period of time – of course there is.

“The plausible risk is that it’s a problem for learning.

“It’s a problem for me in the hospital when I’m trying to communicate with patients – they can’t understand me, they can’t see me.

“So I do get worried about this, I don’t think it’s good policy – I’ve been very careful not to challenge my colleagues, the Chief Health Officers, but I’m afraid on this one, I’m going to have to.”