Fears of second wave as schools go back in 4 weeks

SCHOOLS face a “monumental crisis” at the centre of a second lockdown, with the lack of test and tracing forcing them to shut their gates.

The Government has again insisted classrooms will return “in full” in just four weeks’ time, despite regional flare-ups.

But experts warn the test-andtrace system is not yet good enough to stop another wave of the virus that reopening schools could fuel.

Tory ministers maintained yesterday it was “not up for debate” that pupils would be back in class in England in September.

But Local Government Minister Simon Clarke admitted the test-and-trace programme still needed to improve and was “maturing all the time”.

The system is currently said to be reaching only around 50% of contacts in England, far less than the 75% that ministers claim.

Mr Clarke said getting children back to school was a “top priority” the Government would not “be willing to trade”.

But Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green told the Mirror: has repeatedly warned that an effective test, trace and isolate regime is vital for schools to reopen safely, but staff and parents are being let down by ministers.

“With infection rates rising and new local restrictions in some areas, the Government must urgently prioritise getting the necessary resources and data to local authorities to support local testing and tracing.” The GMB’s Rehana Azam said: “We fear without a proper test-andtrace system and proper safe systems at work, the Government is stacking up a monumental crisis in the month ahead.” Labour leader Keir Starmer said ministers had just a month to fix the broken system to halt a

Number of contacts test-and-trace system is currently believed to be reaching

LOGGERHEADS Kate Green & Simon Clarke

second wave or Britain would face a “long and bleak winter”.

The Children’s Commissioner for England warned that getting all pupils back to school must come before keeping pubs and shops open in future lockdowns.

Anne Longfield argued schools should be the last places to close. She called for regular testing of pupils and staff to prevent whole year groups having to isolate.

The Government’s own scientific advisers have warned when schools reopen other restrictions may have to be reimposed.

Concerns remain that minis“Labour

SHADOW EDUCATION SECRETARY KATE GREEN

ters could prioritise keeping shops and pubs open at the expense of children’s education.

But Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Getting all children back into the classroom fulltime at the start of next month is a national priority.”

Meanwhile, some councils have launched their own local systems for contact tracing.

Blackburn with Darwen council in Lancashire set up its own team yesterday after NHS test-and-trace failed to reach hundreds of vulnerable residents.

In other areas, including Leicester and Liverpool, council workers have been carrying out door-to-door tracing.

An effective test, trace and isolate regime is vital for schools to reopen safely