SECONDARY school children across Solihull are being advised to wear face coverings in class once again following a rise in Covid cases.
Solihull’s Director of Public Health Ruth Tennant, has suggested secondary school head teachers to reintroduce face coverings for pupils in Year 7 upwards in lessons and in communal areas.
She is also urging transition days for pupils who will start year 7 in September to be held online.
There have been 305 new cases in the week to June 28 and the local rate is now 141 per 100,000 compared to 12 per 100,000 a month ago.
Positive cases have increased quickly in the 11-16 and 17-18 age groups according to Solihull Council.
The Council say the increase in rates has been caused by the Delta strain which spreads very quickly and has resulted in some schools having to send bubbles home and put in place on-line teaching.
Ms Tennant said: “For the last few weeks of this school term I am working with our school leaders to reduce the disruption that the Delta variant is causing to children’s education.
“As more adults from 18 upwards get vaccinated and more have two doses, the situation will improve, as we know the vaccine is working well.
“However, I have advised secondary schools to re-introduce face coverings from today for pupils in Year 7 upwards in lessons and in communal areas (e.g. corridors) as a short-term measure.
“I’ve also requested that transition days (where pupils moving from primary to secondary visit their new school) should be held online, unless there are specific reasons why a child needs to visit the school in person, in which case we will support schools, parents and carers to do this safely.”
