Coronavirus: Face coverings advised in Republic of Ireland's secondary schools

The Irish government has recommended that secondary school students and teachers should wear face coverings when a distance of two metres cannot be maintained.

The Department of Education said it had acted on advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

The measures were discussed with teachers' unions.

Guidance for getting cleaning equipment, face coverings, sanitiser and PPE will be announced later.

All recommendations published in the public health advice by the Irish education minister in July still apply in all schools, with the exception of the recommendations on face coverings which has been updated to reflect the latest research and expertise.

The minister also confirmed that she had been working with the public health authorities to ensure that the public health advice underpinning the safe reopening of schools is fully up to date.

In Northern Ireland, the NI Education Minister Peter Weir announced a move to bring children back five days a week from September.

Northern Ireland's chief scientific adviser said face coverings for older school children would be "of some benefit".

Prof Ian Young said they could be worn in some settings in schools, with exceptions.

• Face coverings for older pupils 'beneficial'

However, speaking earlier Mr Weir told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that the wearing of face coverings in schools was "not implementable".