The decision has been made due to high case rates in younger people, particularly those between 11 and 15, a statement from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said Secondary schools in Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, and Rhondda Cynon Taf are reintroducing face coverings until half term as a precautionary measure. The decision has been made due to high case rates in young people with the highest rates of transmission being seen in those aged 11 to 15 years old.
In a statement from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board a spokesman said face coverings will offer extra protection from infection to students and will be used alongside existing control measures such as regular bi-weekly lateral flow testing. Additionally vaccination is being offered to all 12 to 15-year-olds in Wales this month which is expected to significantly reduce the case rate in this age group. The decision to reintroduce face coverings was made by the regional Covid-19 incident management team which is chaired by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, which manages the pandemic response in the region.
Incident team chair and health board deputy director of public health Angela Jones said: “Reintroducing face masks in secondary schools is a precautionary measure designed to offer extra protection from infection to our young people. “This month we’e rolling out the offer of vaccination to everyone aged 12 to 15 in our health board. We’re expecting to see a real fall in the case rate as that offer is taken up but this measure provides additional resilience until then.