Question reference: S6W-05592
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 12 January 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it recommends that school and early years staff wear a face covering of FFP2 quality or above.
Answer
Face coverings are recommended in schools for adults and children aged 12 and over. Mitigations to reduce risks in schools and Early Learning Childcare settings including face covering measures, are kept under regular review by the Scottish Government’s Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues. This approach is grounded in evidence and draws on the expert advice of the advisory sub-group. The group last met on 11 January and further details can be found here .
The Scottish Government recommends that face coverings are made of cloth or other textiles and should be two, and preferably three, layers thick in line with WHO recommendations and fit snugly around the mouth, nose and chin while allowing you to breathe easily. A face covering can be a covering of any type, except a face shield, that covers the mouth and nose. There is no requirement for face coverings to meet specific levels of filtration efficiency and breathability.
More information on face covering guidance can be found here and further information on guidance for schools can be found here .