Face covering guidance enhanced in secondary schools, colleges and universities in response to Omicron variant of concern

Welsh Government have announced a change in guidance to educational settings, with face coverings now required indoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education said late last night, “We are now introducing an additional measure, while we learn more about this new strain. All staff and learners in our secondary schools, colleges and universities should now wear face coverings while indoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained.”

“Many settings are already operating on this basis, guided by their local risk assessment, but this will now become a national approach. This is a temporary, precautionary measure that will be in place for the remaining weeks of term at which point the position will be reviewed. This should come into effect in all settings as soon as possible.”

“Alongside this national approach to face coverings, all education settings will continue to operate with the Local Infection Control Decision Framework and the toolkit which allows them to take measures that best suit their local circumstances.”

“Throughout the pandemic the Welsh Government’s priority has been to maximise learning and to minimise disruption for our young people. With three weeks left of term, it is vital that we ensure that learning can continue for as many learners as possible.”

Mr Miles added, “There remains a lot we don’t know about this new variant. With this high level of uncertainty, it is right that we remain cautious while prioritising the continuation of education. It reinforces the need for everyone in Wales to get their vaccine or booster when offered, wear face coverings when necessary, and book a test if they develop symptoms.”

Laura Doel, Director of NAHT Cymru, said the move was a ‘sensible’ one but said her members were “deeply concerned about primary and special schools.”

She said: “Given the high level of uncertainty around the new variant, it would seem sensible to take a precautionary approach, at least in the short-term, and return to the policy that was in place earlier in the year of masks in secondary classrooms.”

“But while the Welsh Government has taken a prudent approach in secondary schools, we still remain deeply concerned about primary and special schools.”

Ms Doel said: “Even before the emergence of the new variant, NAHT Cymru has raised repeatedly its concerns that current measures needed to be reviewed and strengthened given the high numbers of cases of the delta variant in schools and the severe impact it is having on schools’ ability to deliver education.”

She said: “High levels of staff absence continues to cause immeasurable problems for schools.”

“With the threat of a new variant looming, it is more important than ever for the Welsh Government to listen to the profession and seek to reintroduce those mitigation measures that had little or no impact on the delivery of education, like relaxing session times and allowing the grouping of learners for moving around the setting purposes.”

“We have an opportunity to act now to avoid further disruption and we have a duty to our learners and the school workforce to do all we can to keep them in school safely.” She added.