Covid restrictions set to be lifted in schools

COVID-19 restrictions in schools in Wales are being lifted.

Schools will no longer have to follow the Welsh Government Covid framework, which required them to ratchet restrictions such as contact bubbles and masks up or down depending on local infection rates.

Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, said Covid measures for schools in Wales will be brought into line with guidance for businesses and other organisations.

A new “checklist” for schools to follow will be published shortly, a Welsh Government spokesperson said.

The Welsh Government wrote to schools in Wales yesterday to tell them of the changes.

Some schools are still asking pupils to wear masks in communal areas and some said at the start of this term that they will continue with contact bubbles for some years until the end of this term.

In practice, many schools have ditched most restrictions already and asymptomatic testing for staff and high school children stopped at the end of last term. But absenteeism is still a significant problem, with so many staff and pupils still off for illnesses, including Covid.

Since September last year, schools have applied measures to stop the spread of coronavirus according to local circumstances, based on the Local Covid-19 Infection Control Decision Framework for Schools.

From May 9 schools will no longer be advised to use the framework.

Instead, headteachers will use the new “checklist”.

Mr Miles said the change is in line with the Welsh Government’s longterm Covid-19 transition from pandemic to endemic. The risk from coronavirus is now considered in the same context as other communicable diseases, such as flu.

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the remaining coronavirus restrictions will be removed from May 9 if the public health situation remained stable. The changes to the guidance for schools will also come into effect from May 9.

Schools and other education settings

will continue to be advised to work with local authorities and public health advisers to ensure that measures remain appropriate and proportionate and reflect local risks and circumstances, Mr Miles said.

Speaking at the Welsh Government’s weekly press briefing, Mr Miles said: “In line with the wider

public health guidance published at the last three-week review, we have today written to headteachers to signpost the impending changes to our advice for schools, which reflect the move from pandemic to endemic.

“This will ensure school guidance is more closely aligned with the rest of society.

“We all know that Covid-19 has not gone way.

“It remains vitally important we reduce the spread of the virus where we can – this includes, for example, following self-isolation guidance, and for education settings to continue to undertake robust risk assessments.”