Masks could be required in schools
Pupils may have to wear face coverings in schools in the “near future”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Children are not currently required to wear masks in school but the First Minister said this guidance “may well” be updated after a meeting today.
She was responding to a question from Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie at First Minister’s Questions yesterday.
Mr Harvie said teachers and parents had concerns about safety, saying “for schools to remain open they need to remain safe”.
He said: “The evidence is clear that face coverings can reduce the spread of the virus, which is why they’re needed in other indoor spaces.
“It’s just not credible to say transmission simply won’t happen in schools when we know the risk exists everywhere else when social distancing doesn’t happen.”
Pointing out that he was concerned by pictures of crowded school corridors and canteens, he asked the First Minister: “Does she believe that face coverings should be worn in high schools where distancing is not possible?”
Ms Sturgeon said concerns from parents were “entirely understandable”.
She said: “In the vast bulk of the evidence so far the transmission is not within the schools. It’s community transmission that is causing issues for schools.”
“I do think this is something we have to constantly review and I’m sure it will be a topic of discussion at the education recovery group tomorrow.