Secondary school pupils will be told to wear face masks from the moment they arrive until they leave when they return to classrooms this week.
In a desperate effort to protect the education of millions of youngsters amid a sharp rise in cases of the Omicron variant, Ministers have requested that pupils cover their faces all day – including while they are being taught.
Students may already be asked to remove their masks from communal areas.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi last night said he and Boris Johnson saw schools as their ‘No 1 priority’, adding that they wanted to ‘do everything in our power to minimise disruption’.
New guidance from the government will require school pupils and teachers to don masks next week when they return to their classrooms.
Ministers are worried about an astronomical increase in Omicron cases next week when Omicron-infected children return to school.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi last night said he and Boris Johnson saw schools as their ‘No 1 priority’, adding that they wanted to ‘do everything in our power to minimise disruption’
While the wearing of masks does not constitute a legal requirement for schools, ministers expect that they follow this guidance. The same applies to support staff and teachers. The measures will be reviewed on January 26, with a Government source saying they ‘will not be in place a minute longer than they need to be’, and adding: ‘It is obviously a better classroom experience without masks.’
Ministers are braced for a ‘big bang’ of Omicron cases and staff shortages when students and teachers are tested for coronavirus this week. Either could lead to larger classes or remote learning, for those who are affected. London has Omicron at a particularly high rate, so parents are warned not to rule out school closings.
‘As a general rule, the more you test the more you are going to find Covid,’ the source said. ‘But the idea is that by containing it early, you stop the spread in schools.’
Many MPs have reacted negatively to the online education system, citing the numerous lockdowns that had already caused damage to the education and lives of many millions of young people.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday today, Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who chairs the Education Select Committee, says: ‘Pupils do not need to take any more time off. Every day lost is another day that we are damaging children’s lives.’
In addition to the measures regarding masks, the government is also deploying additional air-cleaning units in the education sector. This will improve ventilation and reduce the spread Omicron. Inspections by Ofcom, the schools regulator is temporarily suspended.
These moves were:
- England had a daily average of 162,572 Covid case records, which was up 47% from the previous Saturday. 1.915 people were admitted to hospital, almost fifty percent more than the previous week, with 154 deaths.
- Ministers turned down calls for a reduction in the Covid-19 isolation time from seven to five to prevent infection. However, up to 30% would be still infectious.
- Fears of staff shortages at schools and hospitals, as well as travel chaos this week when Britain resumes work due to a continuing shortage of lateral flow testing have been sparked by the lingering shortage of these tests.
- Official statistics show that over 90 percent of the coronavirus jabs given to children aged 13 and above were administered last year. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the figure was ‘astounding and a true reflection of the fantastic work of our NHS and its volunteers’;
- The head of NHS Providers, which represents health trusts, said the next few days would be crucial in understanding the impact of Omicron and Ministers ‘must be ready to introduce new restrictions at pace if they’re needed’;
- The British Medical Association stated that further public health precautions should be taken as a result of the temporary suspension of routine visits by a dozen hospitals. However, official statistics show that only one of 40 NHS staff was unable to work due to coronavirus as of December 31st.
- After Covid restrictions were reintroduced by health trusts, MPs demanded action. This forces pregnant women to go alone for scans and appointments.
- Many revellers, many from Scotland and Wales where there are stricter coronavirus restrictions, crossed into England to celebrate the New Year.
- Omicron is a variant of Omicron that causes less lung damage than other strains. One eighth of Omicron patients are from Black communities.
- After YouTube’s dangerous anti-vax content was discovered by the MoS, the father of a child who died from the effects of such propaganda urged the tech firm not to give up.
Teaching unions broadly welcomed the Government’s move on masks. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: ‘Reintroducing face masks in secondary classrooms appears to be a sensible move, given the circumstances.’
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said the decision was ‘overdue’ and urged Ministers to make it a ‘requirement’.
No 10 is understood to have ruled out a return of the ‘bubble’ system which saw entire classes – and sometimes years – sent home if a single pupil tested positive.
‘That’s all in the past. We want to carry on classroom teaching,’ the source said.
The prospect of staff shortages has prompted ministers to redouble their efforts to attract retired teachers to the classroom. An online platform that allows teachers to sign up for volunteer work has had 30,000 hits and Tory MPs Jonathan Gullis (both qualified teachers) have joined the site.
Teaching unions broadly welcomed the Government’s move on masks. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: ‘Reintroducing face masks in secondary classrooms appears to be a sensible move, given the circumstances’
Boris Johnson (Prime Minister) was warned that there will be a “big bang” of Omicron cases at schools next week. Masks will be mandatory for teachers and other support personnel. On January 26, the measures will be reviewed.
Tom Hunt (another Conservative MP) sits on Education Select Committee. He urged Government to remain open to the possibility of reducing the time between seven and five days. This is what countries like the USA and Greece did.
‘Remote learning should not be on the table… It’s vital to maintain schools open, and keep children physically in school. No stone should be left unturned,’ he said.
Mr Hunt also urged teaching unions to be ‘constructive’. His call came as it emerged guidance issued by the NEU advised school leaders that teachers should only have to cover for colleagues on ‘rare’ occasions.
Further guidance issued by the union before Christmas said: ‘If you are asked to cover for a colleague who is off with Covid or any other absence greater than two days, you should refuse to do it.’
Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign For Real Education, said: ‘This is educational sabotage. The teachers have the option to choose. The best and the bravest will continue to put their pupils first and they will be remembered for doing so.’
Ministers reject five-day Covid isolation. Fears mount that schools and hospitals could be shut down as the Government ignores business leaders’ calls for it to. Up to 30% of those affected ‘would still have infectious disease’
BY STEPHEN ADMANS
Ministers opposed calls to decrease the time Covid sufferers are kept isolated from others by reducing it to seven to five days. This is because as much as 30% would still be infected.
Some Tory MPs and business leaders urged ministers to take the US’s lead and reduce self-isolation to those with no symptoms to five consecutive days.
However, a source within the Government told The Mail that while this option had been discussed, it was rejected due to the fact that so many people can still infect others even if self-isolation is completed early.
Schools have had their lateral flow tested ringfenced so that they can open next week.
Commuters may experience significant disruption due to the high number of workers on trains and buses who are forced to seperate, leading to service cancellations
Hospital isolation is also an issue with NHS staff being forced to stay at home.
It comes amid growing concern that lengthy self-isolation is harming vital services and the economy – and with a growing row over the lack of access to lateral flow tests (LFTs).
Labour accused the Government, as millions were preparing to resume work following the holiday break, of not ordering enough LFTs. These LFTs are essential for keeping the country moving and minimizing the risk from Omicron.
Ministers claim that hundreds of millions more LFTs are soon to be made available.
Just before Christmas, self-isolation was reduced from ten to seven days as long as the individual is negative for Covid on two LFTs – the first on day six and the second on day seven.
Asked about the proposal for a further cut to five days, the Government source said: ‘The data we have is that almost one in three people could still be infectious five days after testing positive with Omicron. It isn’t thought it would be safe to cut self-isolation that far.’
The decision differs from that taken in the US where the influential Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the move to halve self-isolation from ten to five days would ‘ensure people can safely continue their daily lives’.
Americans should be free from symptoms and have to wear a mask for five more days before they can reenter daily life. In Greece, Health Minister Thanos Plevris indicated that Omicron’s relative mildness compared with previous variants lay behind its decision to cut the period of self-isolation. ‘The evidence we have from Omicron is encouraging,’ he said.
Instead of relying on symptoms being gone after just five days, the UK Government may require that people have at least two negative LFT tests but then move them to days four or five.
The system, however is self-policing. LFTs are not as sensitive as the gold-standard PCR test and can still cause infection.
A second consideration is the low availability of LFTs. Many pharmacies are out of stock because of rising demand.
Last night, Labour’s health spokesman Wes Streeting said Health Secretary Sajid Javid needed to ‘pull his finger out’ to ensure people had access to the tests. He added: ‘Given how critical testing is going to be over the course of the coming months, the Government really does need to get an immediate grip on this.
‘Testing is going to be vital to keep people working and keeping children at school. If families can’t do that, because Ministers haven’t got their act together, they will have a lot to answer for.’
Every day around one million LFTs, which are twice as common as PCRs, are taken.
Omicron was first reported in December. Health officials insist that there were enough resources to supply the higher demand.
Mr Streeting said: ‘The Health Secretary said before Christmas the challenge was distribution not supply, and there were plentiful stocks of tests in warehouses. But I think it’s more likely the Government has simply underestimated demand, hasn’t ordered enough tests, and doesn’t want to ‘fess up about it.’
Ministers claim that hundreds of millions will be made available soon. Education Secretary Nadhim Zhawi states that tests have been set aside for schools so they can reopen this week.
Travellers fear that Covid-related shortages could cause misery for trains as Britain returns to work.
Covid infection and self-isolation rules have led to more than 20 reductions in services by rail companies.