[ad_1]
All secondary school pupils and teachers in England are required to wear face masks at school in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, it has been announced.
Under new government guidance issued Wednesday, staff and students from Year 7 and up have been told to cover their faces in common spaces, outside of classrooms, where social distancing cannot be maintained.
The guide was issued before the new blockade of England, which will take effect from midnight after Parliamentarians approved the closure in a vote of the House of Commons.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Schools have been given until Monday to implement the new guide.
Elementary school children will not need to cover their faces, while older children with special educational needs or disabilities may also be exempt.
It will also be at the discretion of the elementary schools whether staff and visitors must wear face covers in common spaces.
Secondary school pupils had already been required to cover their faces within the Level 2 and Level 3 restricted areas in England, and those local restrictions will now be superseded by national measures.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “We must put the interests of our children and youth first, especially when the benefits of being in the classroom are clear.
“Children go back to their routines and schools have protective measures in place to keep their staff and students as safe as possible.
“Education is a national priority and we cannot allow it to be disrupted again.”
Children and staff in secondary schools in Scotland must already wear masks when walking between lessons or in common areas.
Another guide advises staff to cover their faces in all schools, where social distancing is not possible, and parents should wear masks even when dropping off and picking up children.
In August, the prime minister made a Your turn on his decision that children in England should not wear masks in secondary schools.
Face covering was made mandatory in common areas and hallways for children in towns and cities that were subject to stricter regulations. coronavirus restrictions.
Outside of those areas was left to the discretion of the principal.
Johnson said in the summer that it would be “absurd” to impose the use of face covers inside classrooms.
