MASK-wearing in schools will no longer be required and class bubbles will be removed when pupils return next week following the Easter break, the government has confirmed.
Restrictions will be eased from 25 April while from 9 May pupils and staff will only be required to take lateral-flow tests twice a week before coming to school, as opposed to daily.
There will still be the option of reintroducing these measures if there was a sudden disruption owing to Covid-19.
Competent Authority Ministers will also be reviewing the legal requirement to isolate, following its extension last month.
Children’s and Education Minister Scott Wickenden said: ‘I would like to give thanks to schools and nurseries for all their hard work and commitment throughout the pandemic.
‘Staff and students have had to adapt massively over the past two years, and although the pandemic is not over, it is an important step forward as we reduce measures and move forward to a new normal, allowing students and young people to enjoy greater freedoms.’
Dr Ivan Muscat, deputy medical officer for health, said: ‘Following the decreased incidence in cases on the Island and within school-age cohorts, it is proportionate to reduce the measures in place in schools and other education settings.
‘In the first two weeks following the return from the Easter break, students are encouraged to continue with daily lateral-flow tests.
‘Thereafter, Public Health guidance will be reducing the frequency of lateral-flow testing to twice weekly.’
He added: ‘I would also like to encourage parents and carers to review the information about vaccination for children if they have not already done so and consider getting their child vaccinated against Covid-19 to protect them against future variants and waves of infection.
‘Even if your child has previously been infected with Covid-19, it is still very important to consider vaccination as this will ensure they have the best possible protection.
‘Vaccination has been the key tool to get us to the stage we are at now and keeping up to date with the vaccination programme will continue to keep us safe.’
