Face covering advice set to be introduced in secondary schools

The Scottish Government is set to encourage pupils and staff to wear face coverings in secondary schools.

The move comes after concerns about crowding in communal areas and the potential for spreading Covid-19.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the guidance would not be enforceable at this stage - and it would not apply in the classroom.

At her daily coronavirus briefing, she said: "Over the weekend, the World Health Organisation issued new guidance on this subject. It said that young people over the age of 12 in schools where physical distancing is not possible, and in areas with high transmission, then face coverings should be recommended.

"I said last week that we here in Scotland were looking closely at this issue, and taking advice from our expert advisory group.

"By way of update today, I can confirm that the education secretary is in the final stages of consulting with teachers and local authorities on a recommendation for the use of face coverings by staff and pupils in secondary schools, when they are moving around in corridors and communal areas.

"We are consulting on this specific measure because: mixing between different groups is more likely in corridors and communal areas - increasing the potential for transmission; crowding and close contact in these areas is more likely, and voices could be raised - resulting in greater potential for creating aerosol transmission; and finally, there is often less scope for effective ventilation in these areas.

"So this is a position, of we conclude it as we expect to do, that would reflect - and actually go slightly beyond - current WHO guidance.

"We are also considering the position on school transport and we will set out our conclusion in next few days.

"We are not currently consulting on any proposals to wear face coverings in the classroom.

"That is because there is greater scope for physical distancing in the classroom, and face coverings are more likely to interfere with teaching.

"I would emphasise, however, that where there are outbreaks, it remains an option for incident management teams to recommend more extensive use of face coverings if they believe in a particular area that is required for a period to protect public health and reduce the risk of transmission.

"And more generally, the reason why we are consulting at this stage on a limited use of face coverings – and indeed, the reason why we have been able to fully reopen schools - is because of the relatively low levels of transmission we currently see in the community.

"That highlights a fundamental point. The best way to ensure that schools can stay open safely – and that businesses can reopen and stay open – is for all of us to play our part in keeping transmission rates within the community as low as possible.

"The way for all of us to help do that is by sticking to the current guidelines."