Williamson urged to extend use of masks in secondary schools
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Teaching unions and scientists have written to the government calling for rules on wearing masks in schools to be extended past 17 May.
Schools minister Nick Gibb said last week that "the expectation is that if everything is successful, and the road map is going in the direction we expect it to go in, then we hope that face masks won't be necessary after that date (17 May)".
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However, in a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, signed by 24 scientists, more than 400 parents and representatives of unions the National Education Union (NEU) Unite, Unison, GMB and NASUWT as well as Public Health England experts have expressed concerns over ending the use of masks in secondary schools too soon.
“To strip these necessary protections, when there are already too few mitigation measures in schools, and when rates of Covid-19 are still significant would have consequences for the health of our children and their parents as well as their communities,” warns the letter.
It highlights recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirming a rise in infections in March among children after schools opened for just a few weeks before the Easter break. According to ONS data, 0.43 per cent of secondary school age children tested positive for the virus in the week ending 20 March compared with 0.31 per cent the previous week. Schools reopened to all pupils on 8 March, however, many secondary schools introduced a phased return for different year groups.
The letter also raises concerns over ONS data which suggests that between 10 and 13 per cent of children who are infected with Covid-19 develop persistent symptoms after infection lasting five weeks or more, an indication of so-called "long Covid".
Experimental estimates from the ONS now suggest that as many 43,000 children and 110,000 school staff in the UK could now be living with "long Covid", the letter adds.
Catherine Wilson, head of support at campaign groups Parents United UK, which also signed the letter on behalf of parents, said: “The removal of masks for secondary school pupils contradicts the available health and safety information we have regarding Covid-19 and threatens to increase the volume of Covid-19 infections in our un-vaccinated children and young people, in addition to school staff and families.”
The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
