When Greece’s epidemiologists and the country’s Education Ministry agreed on the compulsory use of face masks in schools, a heated debate broke out, with teachers and parents demanding that the masks are distributed free of charge. Ultimately, the Ministry stepped back and promised that each student will be given 2 free masks. Over the weekend it was clear, that each student will have one free mask.
Today, schools opened and each child found one free mask next to its books and a water flask.
Here is the result: Two in One!
Oversized masks that could cover the face of not one but two children and maybe one parent!
The Epic Fail cheered the Greek social media with parents posting pictures of their kids with the monstrous pieces of clothes.
Some commented that the size fits to cover the whole family, other founds alternative use as tablecloths, boat sails or hammock.
it looks like #Greece distributed oversized masks to school children and teaching personnel. In worst case, they could be used as underwear… https://t.co/XkiSdFHYCS
— Keep Talking Greece (@keeptalkingGR) September 14, 2020
Cute Detail: Note the Greek flag at the side.
Konstantinos Poulis :
Δεν έχεις παιδικές μάσκες; Δεν πειράζει. Δώσε αυτή. Κάνει και για αιώρα.. Στο νηπιαγωγείο του γιου μου. Κρίσιμη λεπτομέρεια, Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση αγάπη μου #σχολεια #μασκα pic.twitter.com/2BW4pnBUs3— Haris Haris (@Taxideutis) September 14, 2020
So schools reopened today in #Greece. First there was a heated debate when the gvmt rejected the provision of free face coverings for all students, then it backtracked and agreed to it and then this happened -kids were given face coverings fit for the Easter Island heads: pic.twitter.com/72Q2yxMNs5
— Nina Reizi (@ninarei) September 14, 2020
Face mask handed out to my 9-year-old son on his return to school today. Measuring 12x22cm, it's even too big for my head.
Well done, Greek government. pic.twitter.com/kpJ2EB8Q5F
— Damian Mac Con Uladh (@damomac) September 14, 2020
You'll grow into it, baby…#σχολεία #μάσκες #Κεραμέως pic.twitter.com/xLFYxNUShX
— Charis Isaakidis (@harry_isaak) September 14, 2020
This mask below was given to a pre-school kid.
Αυτή η μάσκα δόθηκε για παιδί νηπιαγωγείου. Λογικά το μπουκάλι θα είναι 1,5 λίτρου. Καλή αρχή… #σχολεία #μασκα #COVID19greece #κορωνοιος pic.twitter.com/Mr5MUsVWS3
— Marsupilami (@TheMarsupilami) September 14, 2020
Some even suggested that the mask if per desk and not per child. “One child will hang the mask on left ear, the other child on the right one.”
Άσχετοι.
Οι μάσκες είναι μια ανά θρανίο.
Το ενα λαστιχακι στο αριστερό αυτί του ενός παιδιού και το άλλο λαστιχακι στο δεξί αυτί του άλλους παιδιού pic.twitter.com/hPbLdCY7sa— ⲥⲁⲇⲉⲛⲧⲣⲉ̀ⲡⲉⲥⲁⲓ ⚫⚪ (@kyrosgranazis_) September 14, 2020
They warned that it will be very easy for parents to pick up the wrong kid from school.
The Greek Interior Ministry funded with 6.5 million euros the masks that were ordered and distributed to schools by the Federation of Greek Municipalities KEDE, as Interior Minister Takis Theodorikakos said on a tweet.
Το ΥΠΕΣ χρηματοδότησε 6,2 εκατομ. ευρώ την ΚΕΔΕ η οποία σε ελάχιστο χρόνο ανταποκρίθηκε με διαφάνεια & αποτελεσματικοτητα στην προμήθεια των μασκών και τη διανομή τους σε ολόκληρη τη χώρα. Οι Έλληνες ενωμένοι βάζουμε τα δυνατά μας ιδίως ως στα δύσκολα!
— Τάκης Θεοδωρικάκος (@theodorikakosp) September 14, 2020
“The Interior Ministry financed with 6.2 million euros KEDE, which in a short time responded with transparency & efficiency in the supply of masks and their distribution throughout the country. The Greeks together, we do our best especially in the difficult times!”
According to Education Ministry instructions allege that the masks ought to have two cotton layers, fit for children aged 4-10 with the size 12×20 and 15×25 for children over 10 years old.
— Ντραμερ με νουάρ (@fstylekallithea) September 14, 2020
Average single-use masks I have at home are 9×16 and multiple-use cotton masks 8×18. The latter are one size bigger for my cute head.
Deputy Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki told Alpha TV that everything was too quickly and there were obviously some mistakes that will be corrected.” She said that the size instructions were given by the committee but she did not clarify which one.
A total of 1.6 million masks were distributed in schools on Monday. Zacharaki said that this was the first batch and implied the next batch will have the correct size.
Some Greek parody accounts claim that the problem lies not on the size of the masks but on the size of the kids’ heads.
Later in the evening the General Secretariat of Public Health said in a statement that the given dimensions were referring to the size of fabric before it was sewn into a mask.
And this is what we get when bureaucrats and health experts interfere in the work of tailors…
PS At the end of the day, maybe conspiracy theorists, including most probably also some local OVIDIOTS were right to reject masks fearing that the international Covid-plot gang would hide in a face protection all possible means to surveillance and enslave us as the parody video below shows.
Fail.
Not only is it a complete fail from a practical point of view, oversized mask won’t offer much protection either. Enough space for virus particle to escape or to enter.
The video left me in tears of laughter! Thank you.