PARENTS on the school run will now need to keep their face covered, according to new Scottish Government guidance.

The new rules, due to come into force on Monday, will also mean that S4-6 pupils and their teachers will need to wear face coverings in classrooms, if their local authority area is in levels 3 or 4.

It also paves the way for PE indoors to return, apart from in schools in a level 4 area.

The guidance, issued today, states that “face coverings should also be worn by parents and other visitors to any school site (whether entering the building or otherwise), including parents at drop-off and pick-up.”

Deputy first minister John Swinney said:“Keeping schools open remains our priority but that can only be the case if schools are safe. There have been tremendous efforts applied by staff and pupils to ensure this is the case and I thank them all for their efforts.

He added: “From Monday, there will be increased use of face coverings and new advice to help protect those in the shielding category.  

“It is vital that all the measures are followed rigorously in schools. Doing that – together with the collective efforts of all of us across wider society – will help to ensure that schools can safely remain open.

“None of the levels in the framework require any automatic move to school closures or blended learning. However, no one can predict what the coming weeks and months will bring. Remote learning remains an important contingency for schools at all levels of the strategic framework and there has been considerable progress made in the provision of remote learning, should that be required.”