Schools’ mask rules could be scrapped
THE rule that forces children to wear masks in school may change soon in Wales, a medical adviser to the Welsh Government has said.
Experts advising the Welsh Government are “actively” considering relaxing the rules on masks in schools, said Dr Giri Shankar, from Public Health Wales (PHW).
In England, face masks will no longer be required in schools from May 17.
Secondary-age pupils in Wales were told to wear masks in all communal areas of school in November. Under new stricter guidance introduced last term, they are now also required to wear them in classrooms.
Staff are asked to wear masks whenever they can’t socially distance, including when they are teaching in primary and secondary.
Dr Shankar, incident director for the Covid outbreak response at PHW, told BBC Wales: “This issue is under active consideration in Wales and colleagues are collating all evidence, including the input of Public Health Wales.
“Therefore we’ll be able to make an informed assessment of whether we can move to non-use of face coverings in schools straight away or so we need more evidence.”
Children’s Commissioner Professor Sally Holland said “many” young people have raised concerns with her about having to wear masks in lessons.
She has raised this with the Welsh Government repeatedly over the past few months and has asked minsters to remove the recommendation to wear them as soon as possible.
Prof Holland said: “While a few young people have said they feel safer wearing a mask in the classroom, and others say they accept it because they are keen to be in school even with restrictions, many others have raised with me difficulties they experience.
“This includes feeling discomfort, difficulties communicating, skin problems and steaming-up of glasses.”
“I’ve been sharing these views with government and have urged them on a number of occasions over recent weeks to keep the requirement for face coverings in classrooms for the minimum time necessary.
“I have urged them to keep reviewing the measure and to continue listening to young people’s experiences as part of that review.
“In response, the government has assured me that the advice to wear face coverings in classrooms will be removed when advised by health experts.”
Eithne Hughes, director of the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru, said it was essential expert advice was followed: “Our position on the removal of face coverings in school is that the scientific evidence really does need to support any change in policy direction.
“If the public, the profession and learners are to be confident that educational settings are equally safe without face coverings, that will only come with strong evidence base for doing so.”
The next lockdown review will be announced by the Welsh Government on Friday, May 14.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are guided by the latest scientific and medical advice and we continue to keep the guidance on the wearing of face coverings in schools under review.”