School pupils in Scotland may have to wear face coverings in schools in the “near future”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

At present, children are not required to wear masks in school – but the First Minister said this guidance “may well” be updated after a meeting on Friday.

Ms Sturgeon was responding to a question from Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.

Face coverings could become law in schools.

Mr Harvie said teachers and parents had concerns about safety, saying “for schools to remain open they need to remain safe”.

He said: “The evidence is clear that face coverings can reduce the spread of the virus, which is why they’re needed in other indoor spaces.

“It’s just not credible to say transmission simply won’t happen in schools when we know the risk exists everywhere else when social distancing doesn’t happen.”

Saying he was concerned by pictures of crowded school corridors and canteens, he asked the First Minister: “Does she believe that face coverings should be worn in high schools where distancing is not possible?”

Ms Sturgeon said concerns from parents were “entirely understandable”, noting there were a number of cases associated with schools.

She said: “In the vast bulk of the evidence so far the transmission is not within the schools. It’s community transmission that is causing issues for schools.”

Discussing face coverings, the First Minister said: “I do think this is something we have to constantly review and I’m sure it will be a topic of discussion at the education recovery group tomorrow.

“And it may well be that that is guidance is that in the near future we do look to change in terms of the role of face coverings in schools.”

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Pupils may have to wear face coverings in school in the 'near future', says Nicola Sturgeon

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