Plaid Cymru calls for Ventilation Support Fund to help halt Covid spread

“We must use all the tools in our arsenal to keep children safe” – Sian Gwenllian MS

Plaid Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to make use of all methods available to keep children safe in schools, including ventilation in particular.

Independent SAGE guidance, published in June 2021, recommended the use of ventilation to be implemented immediately in schools, and in a separate report called for the creation of a ventilation support fund.

Plaid Cymru Education Spokesperson, Sian Gwenllian MS said that the Welsh Government should “make use of the summer holiday period” to put in place plans for increased ventilation in schools.

Ms Gwenllian added that the government must make use of all tools available to “children keep safe” and prevent the spread of covid amongst Wales’ unvaccinated population.

Plaid Cymru Education Spokesperson, Sian Gwenllian MS said,

“The Welsh Government needs to make use of the summer holiday period to put in place plans for proper ventilation in schools, including a ventilation support fund, as recommended by Independent SAGE.

“There is an increasing body of scientific evidence suggesting the huge role ventilation plays in reducing the spread of airborne viruses like covid-19; the ventilation of indoor spaces is one of our key tools for combatting covid.

“We know that being outdoors reduces the risk significantly, so why is the government hesitant to make use of ventilation to lower transmission in schools? We must use all the tools in our arsenal to keep children safe and prevent covid spreading amongst our unvaccinated population.”