Secondary schoolkids told to wear masks in ‘communal areas’ when classes return in Devon and Cornwall after Covid surge

SECONDARY school kids in Devon and Cornwall have been told to wear masks in "communal areas" when classes return next week after a massive spike in Covid cases.

Infections in the holiday hotspot have rocketed in recent weeks - with infections so high that it would be ";put on the red list" if it was a country on the UK's traffic light system.

A number of local authorities in the south west of England will now be given extra support due to fears of mounting pressure on the NHS amid the spike in cases, the Department of Health said last night.

The extra measures will be rolled out in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to boost the number of people getting vaccinated and tested.

And schoolkids will also be required to wear face coverings in communal areas outside classrooms in secondary schools and colleges to curb the spread of the virus.

While there will be no legal restrictions in place, more public health campaigns will be launched to urge visitors to wear masks and social distance.

Summer holidays and festivals including Boardmasters have contributed to a rise in cases, pushing parts of Cornwall into the most high risk of the UK.

And thousands more Brits are expected to hit the seaside destinations for the Bank Holiday weekend with sizzling temperatures of 25C on the way.

The Department of Health has urged local residents and visitors to wear face coverings in crowded areas, meet outdoors where possible, let fresh air into homes, and consider minimising the number of social interactions.

The extra measures will be in force from today for the next five weeks - but pupils will return to school from next week as planned.