Standing on the faculty gates or dropping off kids because the bell rang led to “social mixing alternatives” for Covid to unfold, a Welsh Authorities advisor has stated.

It has meant that as most pupils went dwelling for Christmas they have been stepping out of the classroom for the final time in months.

Most will likely be studying from dwelling till no less than February half-term, until there’s a large drop in Covid instances.

However why, when officers have repeatedly stated faculties are protected environments for kids, are they now closed?

Dr Heather Payne, a advisor paediatrician and member of the Welsh Authorities’s Technical Advisory Cell, explains.