Mum outraged after 4 year-old with Down Syndrome turned away from test centre for not wearing mask
Melanie says her son has been discrimated against for his disability
Last updated 20th Mar 2021
The mum of a 4-year-old boy, who was turned away from a testing centre in Perth for not wearing a mask, feels her son has been discrimated against.
Leo - who has down syndrome - wasn't allowed access to the walk-through facility at Thimblerow car park as he is over the age of 3.
A member of staff refused them entry unless the child wore a mask.
Melanie took her son to get tested as a precaution after a small COVID-19 outbreak at Leo's nursery.
She said: "I feel like disabilities are getting discriminated against, not just Leo, it's under fives, young children that are scared of wearing masks.
"Of course, I want to be prepared more than anything, especially the number of cases that are going about.
"When he gets ill, it can happen within hours."
Melanie returned to the site to protest the decision to refue her son a test.
Current guidance from the World Health Organisation says youngsters under 5 are exempt from wearing a mask.
The Scottish Government advice states children under 5 are not required to wear a mask, as are those with certain health conditions or a disability.
The test centre in Perth is run by the UK Government and a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We know this will have been a distressing situation for the family.
“To protect everyone attending a test site, including hard-working NHS Test and Protect staff, face coverings must be worn at Local Testing Sites by anyone aged over three, as per the clinically approved operating process in place.
“If a face covering cannot be worn, drive through testing and home testing kits are available as alternatives and were offered in this case.”
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