School Covid rules may be strengthened after pupils test positive
The prospect of pupils being forced to wear face masks on school buses and a “greater emphasis” on social distancing in schools will be considered, MSPS have been told.
Education secretary John Swinney said the emergence of positive Covid tests among school pupils was “regrettable”.
But he told MSPS at Holyrood yesterday that transmission in the latest cases did not take place in the classrooms, but during “out of school activities”.
Shetland MP Beatrice Wishart called on ministers to “mandate” the wearing of masks for all pupils travelling to school.
“There is a logic to wearing face masks on school transport,” she said. “Pupils who get a Lothian bus, a First bus or indeed on Shetland the ferry, to and from school have to wear masks.
“It wouldn’t pose an impediment to childrens’ education in the same way as a face covering in a classroom would.”
She added: “Wouldn’t face coverings on school transport be a sensible precaution to help minimise transmission and help allow schooling to stay on track.”
The Deputy First Minister pledged that ministers will continue to review the guidance which is in place for schools in Scotland in order to ensure that it remains “appropriate for the challenges that we face. The EIS have written to the government with the suggestion about face coverings.”
“We will take further clinical advice in relation to that point. Further discussions will be held on that point by the education recovery group which is responsible for the introduction of that guidance.”
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said he had been told by teachers they want social distancing to have a “greater emphasis” and face coverings to be the expectation inside classrooms.
Mr Swinney said: “The substantive point Mr Harvie raises is one that I hope I’ve adequately set out to Parliament we are considering.
“There will be arguments about whether the measures are appropriate at the moment. We’ve sought clinical advice, we will continue seek clinical advice to inform that judgments that we make.”