COVID-19: Face mask rule for high school students could be lifted in weeks | UK News

High school students may soon no longer be required to wear masks.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the government plans to lift the requirement for students in England as part of the third step of its roadmap to get out of the lockdown.

This would mean May 17th at the earliest.

Mr Williamson told the Telegraph: “As infection rates continue to decline and our vaccination program is successful, we plan to remove the requirement to cover your face in the classroom through third grade. roadmap step.

“The removal of face masks will dramatically improve interactions between teachers and students, while all other school safety measures will remain in place to help keep the virus out of classrooms.”

But the move is not popular with a group of teachers and scientists unions, who have written to Mr Williamson to demand that the rule be maintained until at least June 21.

Their letter warned that around 43,000 children and 114,000 school staff would suffer from a lengthy COVID, where symptoms of the coronavirus last for several months after the initial infection ends.

The letter read: “Removing these necessary protections, when there are already too few mitigation measures in schools, and when COVID-19 rates are still high, would have consequences for the health of our children and their parents as well as their communities. . “

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said: “As infection rates continue to decline and our vaccination program is successful, we plan to remove the requirement to cover the face in the room. class, in accordance with the third step of the roadmap.

“Transmission of the virus in schools continues to decline, with the latest data showing a significant decrease in the number of students and staff testing positive and isolated cases rapidly thanks to our twice-weekly rapid screening program.”