Schools have reopened in Northern Ireland for the first time since March after months of disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite warnings from teachers' unions that educators had not been given enough time to respond to safety rules issued earlier this month, Northern Ireland's chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride insisted it was safe for children to return.
Schools have been advised that strict social distancing between children may be relaxed if there are hygiene measures in place.
The government also said face coverings are not mandatory for routine use by pupils. Stormont's education minister Peter Weir said schools were not unsafe places for children and teachers alike, adding that children will come to no harm as a