7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the required social distancing measures in schools. (S5O-04523)

The guidance on the reopening of schools that was published on 30 July provides detailed advice on physical distancing in schools. On the basis of scientific advice, and subject to all other risk-mitigation measures being appropriately implemented in schools, the guidance provides that there is no requirement for physical distancing between children in schools. Physical distancing of 2m should be maintained between adults and between adults and children and young people who are not from the same household.

As the guidance also makes clear, the implementation of the guidance on the return to full-time schooling is being monitored closely, and I am committed to ensuring that it is kept under review and updated when necessary, in line with the on-going scientific advice.

I have been contacted by a number of parents and school councils in Edinburgh who have concerns about children being kept away from school with colds, runny noses and sore throats. The children have no other symptoms, yet the schools say that they cannot attend because of guidance from the City of Edinburgh Council. Will the Cabinet secretary consider giving fresh guidance to local authorities, to ensure that children can go to school if they have only a small cold or cough without lots of staff and teachers being prevented from entering the building?

I recognise that it is a finely balanced issue and that there will be anxiety in the school system about the presentation of symptoms that we would all recognise as being those of the routine colds that circulate at this time of year, when schools return. Care must be exercised. At today’s lunchtime briefing, the First Minister set out some of the data on the level and prevalence of Covid among children and young people in our society—it is very, very low. There has been a massive increase in the number of young people being tested for Covid, and the number of positive cases is significantly less than 1 per cent.

There is a lot of anxiety. I encourage parents and schools to exercise care when making judgments about the routine colds that circulate that this time of year and to try to maximise the opportunities for young people and children to access learning.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I ask all members to be very brief.

Earlier in the week, I mentioned concerns about photographs of a school in my area. Can the Cabinet secretary confirm that although the guidance on face masks is welcome, other elements, such as social distancing and hand washing, are equally important to ensuring that we minimise the risk of the virus spreading?

I take the opportunity to make it crystal clear—as I did in Parliament earlier this week—that there are a range of mitigation measures to be followed, one of which is the wearing of face coverings in communal areas. However, by far the most effective technique in reducing the spread of the virus is ensuring physical distancing and cleanliness in hand washing and the cleaning of surfaces. Those are the fundamental elements of the approach that we are taking. All those measures must be pursued.