NASP has issued guidelines on wearing face coverings in England after 19 July.
The organisation expects that the wearing of face coverings will no longer be legally required in most places in England from 19 July, subject to confirmation on 12 July. The legal requirement to wear a face covering in shops, on public transport and in other enclosed public spaces will end. However official advice will say face coverings should still be worn, as a voluntary measure. The Prime Minister has said it will be a matter of personal responsibility.
The legal need to wear a face covering in certain places will remain, for the time being, in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish government has said it could keep some basic measures in place, including wearing masks at its next review due in August.
NASP believes it is sensible to wear face coverings after 19 July in our industry because:
- Evidence suggests transmission is mostly happening in indoor spaces where people are in close proximity
- Face coverings worn over the nose and mouth reduce the spread of coronavirus droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking
- The main purpose is to protect others from COVID, rather than yourself. If everyone wears one, the risks drop for all
- Masks can also help reduce virus spread from people who may be contagious but have no symptoms
- Cutting virus transmission is important because many people are still not yet fully vaccinated
- Some new virus variants appear more transmissible than earlier COVID strains
NASP recommends that:
- You consider still wearing a face covering after 19 July for yourself and your clients
- You continue to sanitise the car as we have been doing during COVID and continue to use hand sanitiser
8 thoughts on “NASP issues guidelines for face coverings after 19 July”
This is a good idea, but I’ve seen several instructors /students that haven’t been wearing them since we restarted in April.
I will leave it upto the individual.
I will carry on with cleaning car and anti bac for a little while longer
Agree with you Rob. I will be keeping all of my current safety measures in place: hand sanitiser, face masks and using anti-viral cleaners after every student, deep clean at the end of the day. All of my students have appreciated that I have had these measures in place from the very start. Many of my learners are NHS workers and have sadly seen first hand the consequences of the Covid virus. These measures also help me to avoid catching colds and ‘flu, which would result in down-time.
I’d already advised my students that all hygiene protocols will continue for the time being, including masks. I’m really glad to see that’s in line with nasp. None of my students challenged me on it and several were openly supportive.
Playing devils advocate, did we wear a face covering before COVID 19 to protect everyone’s health. Respiratory diseases were around well before this?
All but one of my students (and where applicable their parents) have expressed gratitude for the normal environment they can experience for two hours at a time while in my car and where they do not have to look at a masked face or hear mumbled words. I have been sought out by new clients because they can see I don’t mask. I wear it for those who want me to and so far I have only worn it for one student, despite me being mask exempt.
Whatever happened to client centred learning? I cannot be that much of an outlier in terms of how my students consider masks unnecessary and so I strongly suspect this is more about what instructors want rather than what they want. However much we might dress it up as preventing transmission to people who don’t seem that bothered about our efforts, it does seem to be more about us wanting to wear a mask for our own reasons for our own reasons.
I anticipate someone might say that my learners are being led to act in a way they don’t feel comfortable with because of the fear of taking on the authority figure of a teacher. If that is to be the case, I would simply say that I think kids are masking up to make others feel better and to conform to the prevailing sentiment rather than to alleviate their fears of infection. This can very simply be seen by observing their behaviour when left to their own devices in other company. They don’t tend to mask up unless they are expected to by authority or a rule.
I have already told all my pupils that face coverings with be required on my lessons until at least the end of the year and probably indefinitely. I also intend to carry on with the car wipe down after every pupil
Hi Dick Y R
So you really think that you are acting responsibly and are a law unto your own self and being a great example to your students
So when they go for their test they do not have to wear any face protection in order to protect others and the examiners
Who cares if they, encouraged by your great wisdom, passes on the virus
No wonder, with people like you about, how the virus is spreading like wild fire and we might have to go into another lockdown
Have you told your students about the COVID arrangements regarding Tests?
I could go on and on
Your irresponsible behaviour really is beyond belief
Hi Dick Y R
So you really think that you are acting responsibly and are a law unto your own self and being a great example to your students
So when they go for their test they do not have to wear any face protection in order to protect others and the examiners
Who cares if they, encouraged by your great wisdom, passes on the virus
No wonder, with people like you about, how the virus is spreading like wild fire and we might have to go into another lockdown
Have you told your students about the COVID arrangements regarding Tests?
I could go on and on
Your irresponsible behaviour really is beyond belief