Masks at schools: "strong recommendations" become "expectations"

Friday 12 November 2021

All visitors to school premises are now expected to wear face coverings - including parents and carers when dropping off or picking up children.

And parents and carers of older children are being asked to support schools "in making sure that secondary school and post-16 students wear face coverings in communal areas, for example when moving between lessons".

For the past two weeks, these measures have been "strongly recommended" by the States but inconsistently observed in schools. Late on Friday - in a video which can be watched below - the President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture said they are "now our expectation".

"This is what living responsibly with covid means - adapting to changing circumstances and us all taking responsibility which we have excelled at as a community during this pandemic," said Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen.

"This is about small adjustments. We're asking you as parents and carers to support your child's school please by wearing a face covering whenever you're on school grounds. For things like pick ups, drop offs, parents' evenings and other events run by schools.

"While it's not mandatory at this stage, this is now our expectation. It's really important that we all take small steps to help play our part in helping to reduce the risk of transmission."

Pictured: The States have strengthened requests to parents and carers about the use of face coverings in schools after the latest covid-19 testing figures showed that there are now 399 known active cases in the Bailiwick.

Face coverings continue not to be required in classrooms and other learning areas, where additional mitigation will remain in place.

"In primary schools and early years settings, it continues to be strongly recommended that adults wear face coverings in situations indoors where physical distancing between adults is not possible," said the States.

"If a child of primary school age wants to wear a face covering and can tolerate wearing one, then they are of course free to do so, but the strong recommendation is for adults only."