Covid-19: ‘No plans’ for mandatory face masks in NI schools

Peter Weir says he doesn’t think the measure will be necessary after new hygiene methods are put in place to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading in schools.

“At the moment, the indications for both pupils and teachers are that it doesn’t look like masks would particularly be needed,” he told an online meeting of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum.

He told the forum “exemptions” for those under the age of 13 were being discussed for when the wearing of face masks is introduced in shops in August.

“The level of direct danger to young people is very low - it’s more about the interaction with older people,” he said.

It is not envisaged that everyone will need to be tested for Covid-19 across the population, he added.

He said “limited testing needs to be focused on where it is actually needed”, adding that testing offers limited protection as someone with a negative result could contract the virus two days later.

People should be tested if they have Covid-19 symptoms or if they have been in a situation where they have been exposed to the virus, he said.

Mr Weir said school lunchtimes and break times may look a little different when pupils return to class in September, with less opportunity for students to socialise.

He said social-distancing rules would be in place for older pupils and it was likely there would be changes to school canteens. He said teachers may rotate between classes rather than students moving rooms for different subjects.

He said it was his “aim” to get all students back to school five days a week, but there may have to be a mix of classroom-based and remote learning.