The UK government has asked secondary school students in England to wear masks in classrooms in a bid to limit the spread of the Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Face coverings are already recommended in outdoor communal areas and corridors for pupils in year 7 and above, who are usually aged 11 and above. But in its latest guidance (pdf) issued on Jan. 2, the Department for Education (DfE) recommended that masks should also be worn inside classrooms when the new terms begins after the Christmas break. An additional 7,000 air cleaning units will also be provided to schools, colleges, and early years settings to improve ventilation in teaching spaces, the DfE said. The recommendation will be temporary, remaining in place until Jan. 26, when the government’s “Plan B” regulations on COVID-19 are scheduled to expire. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said that he looks forward to …