Coronavirus: Face coverings U-turn for England’s secondary schools

Secondary pupils will have to wear face coverings in school corridors in local lockdown areas of England, after the government reversed its guidance. Head teachers in any secondary school will also have the 'flexibility' to introduce masks in their schools. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said it followed updated advice from the World Health Organization. But Labour accused the government of 'passing the buck' on decisions back to schools. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new guidance meant that in coronavirus 'hot spot' areas that 'it probably does make sense in confined areas outside the classroom to use a face covering in the corridor and elsewhere'.