WINTER coughs and colds will be no excuse for children or staff displaying symptoms in schools, the Welsh education minister has said

Kirsty Williams MS said that the benefits now outweigh the risk of sending pupils back into the classroom at a weekly Welsh Government coronavirus briefing as children return to schools and colleges across Wales from this week.

However, any child displaying the usual symptoms of the virus will need to be tested accordingly.

Signs including a continuous cough, high temperature or loss of smell and taste would see a child leave the classroom for a COVID test

And, if they test positive for the virus, the individual and close contacts will have to isolate.

However, the minister stressed that rules remain in place and that exclusion based on inappropriate jokes about the pandemic or malicious coughing would not be tolerated.

Ms Williams said: “If the experience of Scotland is anything to go by, they have seen a significant uptake in the number of children that are taking COVID-19 tests. We have taken on board those lessons and are in close discussion with our health colleagues to make sure testing capacity is available.

“All children who are exhibiting symptoms will be required to take a test. I appreciate that as we enter the winter months potentially other winter ailments will become confused but it is essential that if any child or a member of staff in school exhibit those symptoms – they need to be tested.”

A positive test result would mean a child or staff member will then need to isolate for the needed period and the Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) would find out who their close contacts were and they would also need to do the same.

Ms Williams added: “I’m please to say our TTP regime is operating at a level that is way beyond what was recommended to me as a safe level to allow children to go back to school.”