The photo was taken on a domestic flight from Auckland to Wellington on July 1 and shows the child wearing an adult-sized mask that covers half of his face with two small holes for the eyes. Jandre Opperman, who took the photo and shared it on Instagram, told the New Zealand Herald it was a “super-sweet interaction”. “The baby was full of joy, jumping and laughing away. It made waiting to get off the plane a little more fun.” While some netizens found the image funny, comparing the image to popular horror movie characters, others commented that it was “so sad” and claimed it was an example of “child abuse”. “If I saw this on a flight I would take her mask off myself,” read one comment. Another claimed it was “dangerous to cover their breathing holes like that”. However, Mr Opperman said the mask did not appear to be tightly fitted around the infant’s face. Some also questioned how effective the mask could be in protecting the child from Covid. Speaking to The Spinoff, a New Zealand news website, Siouxsie Wiles, a microbiologist and covid communicator, explained that the mask “may reduce the amount of virus they breathe in a bit” but that “it was best to invest in masks designed for small”. According to New Zealand law, all air passengers over the age of 12 must wear masks on domestic flights. For younger children, the government advises parents to choose a well-fitting mask that can be worn consistently and covers their mouth, nose and chin without gaps.
