Face coverings in schools make staff feel safer ​

The introduction of face covering​s in ​schools have made school support staff feel safer. Taking them away when infection rates are still high and rising in some areas would be a mistake​, warns UNISON ​today (Thursday). Seven in ten (71%) teaching, learning and special needs assistants, administrators, lunchtime supervisors and facility staff ​in England believe face coverings in secondary schools are an important safety measure​. ​More than six in ten (63%) ​say face coverings make them feel safer at work​, according to a recent UNISON survey. These findings ​are being sent to the government to inform ​its review of face coverings as a safety measure in schools and highlight the risk of removing them, particularly from classrooms. The survey also found that 75% of secondary school staff say their school has introduced face coverings for staff in class. An even higher number (84%) said pupils were wearing them in classrooms. UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: ​“Face coverings in schools have only been in place for a few weeks​. Lifting this measure before the impact on transmission in schools ​has had time to be assessed would be rash. It could undermine the morale of staff​, who see face coverings as ​an important protection ​at work. ​“Efforts to keep pupils and staff safe will be in vain if safety measures are lifted too soon. Instead​, prevention measures should be strengthened to a...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release education face coverings Jon Richards Source Type: news