Minister gives timetable for ending schools’ Covid restrictions

A timetable for the removal of Covid restrictions in schools has been outlined by education minister Jeremy Miles.

Wales will keep masks in schools for now as restrictions in schools are eased slowly, Mr Miles said while speaking at yesterday’s Welsh Government coronavirus briefing.

He added a couple more weeks data was needed to better understand the impact of children returning to school, before any other changes were made, but the priority was to keep schools open, reports Wales Online.

Mr Miles said: “Face coverings will remain in schools for the time being, just as they are required in most public places, at alert level zero.”

Schools can return to the same Covid restrictions as last term after February half term, he said.

That means without the extra measures recommended in response to the Omicron wave at the start of this term - contact bubbles and the flexibility to have staggered start and end times.

From half term the minister confirmed schools and local education authorities can ramp mitigations up or down depending on local circumstances as set out in the Welsh Government schools re-opening guidance. That means the situation will depend from area to area.

The minister said case rates among children and young people were not entirely clear as they are based on PCR and not lateral flow tests and more data was needed.

“On the 10th of February the Welsh Government will be holding our next three week review. At that point there will be a week to go before the half term break. If the evidence supports it, we will be able to confirm to schools they should return to making local decisions in line with the Covid framework.”