Face masks will become mandatory for high school pupils in Scotland from next Monday (August 31) it has been announced.
Education Secretary John Swinney confirmed that the rules would come into force at the start of next week and apply to all Sottish secondary school pupils over the age of 12, apart from those exempt on medical grounds.
Children and young people will be required to ‘habitually’ wear masks in corridors and communal areas but they would not be required in classrooms where distancing measures were in place.
Confirming the move on BBC Radio Scotland this morning Mr Swinney said it was based on new World Health Organisation (WHO) advice about wearing masks on transport.
He said: “From August 31st young people over the age of 12 in secondary schools should be habitually wearing face coverings when they are moving around schools and corridors and in communal areas where it is difficult to deliver the physical distancing.
He added the new rules were: "an inherent part of the guidance the education recovery group has put in place."
"It's part of the general measures we are taking to ensure we keep pace with the emerging advice about how to keep our schools open and to keep our schools safe."
