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<p>The Department continues to work closely with other Government Departments throughout
its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including Public Health England (PHE) and the
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), as well as stakeholders across the sector.
We continue to work to ensure that our policy is based on the latest scientific and
medical advice, to develop comprehensive guidance based on the PHE-endorsed ‘system
of controls’ and to understand the impact and effectiveness of these measures on staff,
pupils and parents.</p><p>We recently published updated guidance for schools to support
the return to full attendance from 8 March. This guidance includes updated advice
on face coverings and how to access them. Due to the increasing use of face coverings
in wider society, staff and pupils are already likely to have access to face coverings.
In our guidance, we recommend that all schools should have a small contingency stock
of face coverings available, in case an individual has forgotten or damaged their
own. The guidance can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance</a>.</p><p>Within
our guidance, we signpost to the wider DHSC guidance on face coverings. This guidance
outlines what a face covering is, the reasons for using a face covering, when to wear
a face covering and exemptions. In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, a face covering
is something which safely covers the nose and mouth. This includes reusable or single-use
face coverings, a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth coverings.
The face covering must securely fit around the side of the face. Face coverings are
not classified as personal protective equipment, they are instead largely intended
to protect other people (rather than the person wearing the face covering) against
the spread of COVID-19 infection. The DHSC guidance can be found at the following
link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own</a>.</p><p>PHE
has also published guidance on how to make a simple face covering. This guidance can
be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering</a>.</p><p>To
support the return to full attendance and to ensure maximum compliance with the system
of controls, DHSC are currently in the process of distributing a delivery of between
5,000 and 7,500 units of free face coverings to all secondary schools and further
education institutions for use as contingency stock.</p>
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