Cases expected to rise as pupils go to school

INFECTIONS LIKELY TO BE BECAUSE OF PARENTS MINGLING AT THE GATES

CORONAVIRUS rates in the city are expected to rise next week when children return to classes after lockdown – but probably as a result of parents mixing at school gates.

Pupils who have been off school since before Christmas are set to start going back, with primary schools opening on Monday.

The government has said there will be a rapid-flow testing system for secondary pupils, so many schools are expected to bring back children in stages in order to accommodate that.

However, there are concerns infection rates could jump again when non-key worker or vulnerable children go back – particularly in Leicester, where infection rates remain high.

Martin Samuels, the city council’s strategic director of social care and education said: “The odds are we will see a rise in the infection rate, but I don’t think it will be anything to do with the children.

“I think it will be to do with their parents as, with the best will in the world, we are likely to see some mixing at the school gates and to and from school, so we will get parents infecting each other.

“A small amount of that will transmit into children, so we will find some of them who have been infected, but they will have been infected at home through their parents mixing with other adults on the school run.

“It will be nothing to do with children. If all of us as grown-ups could follow the rules we would not be in this situation.”

Mr Samuels stressed the importance of parents maintaining social distancing, wearing face coverings and not hanging about and talking when dropping off and picking up.

He maintained the schools would be the places safest from Covid-19 in Leicester when they fully reopen because of all the measures put in place by teachers to reduce the risk.

He said evidence has shown that infections in school-age children rose during previous lockdowns because youngsters were mixing in more uncontrolled environments.

There had been low case numbers reported in city schools during the most recent lockdown and he praised staff for the work they had carried out to minimise the risk of infections.

Mr Samuels said it was important for the welfare and development of children to get them into the classroom.

EVIDENCE: Martin Samuels, the city council’s strategic director of social care and education