The Government has said that, in view of the much higher level of transmission of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, and on the advice of the Director of Public Health, the Department of Education is "strongly recommending" that children in secondary schools should wear masks while in school, including in classrooms as well as corridors and common areas.

A statement from the Government follows below:

While Omicron infection continues to appear to be milder, and its effect on children is also mild, mask wearing is recommended in order to decrease the risk of transmission and subsequent spread to more vulnerable, including older, relatives. 

Secondary school children are more likely than primary school children to mix socially and become vectors for transmission to others, and so this recommendation is not being made in respect of the latter. This may be reviewed in the future, always considering that this may be more difficult to manage in younger children.