School staff in Hitchin and across north Herts will not be asked to wear face masks in the staff room or during meetings – despite council bosses having asked for similar measures in care homes.

The news comes as schools in Hitchin have been busy welcoming pupils back this week including at the Priory on Bedford Road, Hitchin Boys' School on Grammar School Walk and Hitchin Girls' School on Highbury Road - as well as a number of junior schools in the town.

Care home staff were been asked to wear their facemasks and other items of 'personal protective equipment' (PPE) in staff rooms and back-office spaces in June.

Until then they would routinely take-off their face masks and other items of PPE whenever they were not in direct contact with residents.

But the county council's director of adult care asked them to keep them on when in staff rooms and back-office spaces, amid concerns asymptomatic staff were unwittingly spreading the virus to colleagues and residents.

School staff mix and meet in staff rooms in a similar way, but the county council has confirmed they will not be asked to wear face masks in the same way.

Increased hand-washing, teaching pupils in 'bubbles', one-way systems and staggered start-times, are among the measures that have already been implemented in schools to stop any spread of Covid-19.

And schools can recommend that children aged 12 and over use face coverings in indoor communal areas – such as corridors – where social distancing cannot be safely managed.

But the county council say they will not be recommending that teachers and other school staff wear face masks in staff rooms or in meetings.

Cllr Tim Hutchings, the county council's cabinet member for public health and prevention, says this reflects the roles of teaching and care staff.

"We do not require staff in schools to wear face coverings in classrooms, offices and dining rooms in the same way as carers as they are not carrying out the same kind of nursing duties," he said.

"Teachers don't have to touch the children at all in most cases and it is unlikely they will be leaving classrooms for breaks as the children have to remain in small bubbles for breaks and lunchtimes."

Commenting more generally on the use of face masks in secondary schools, Cllr Hutchings said: "Schools have the discretion to require face coverings in communal areas if they believe that it is right in their particular circumstances for staff and students Year 7 or above.

"This should only be when moving around the school, i.e. in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain."

"It will not be necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom, where protective measures mean that risks are lowered, as they can inhibit learning.

"Some children and young people will be exempt from wearing face coverings, especially those certain health conditions and disabilities."