Infection rate warning from chiefs as pupils return to classrooms
There are no risk-free options but no schooling is also risky
THE UK’S chief medical officers today warn that Covid-19 infections could leap when children go back to school.
And they are bracing the nation for fresh crackdowns such as shutting pubs, restaurants and shops and local lockdowns if the R rate – which measures the potential infection rate in the population – jumps.
But the message in their joint statement is that the benefits of getting children back to school after nearly six months’ absence outweigh the dangers.
England’s Chris Whitty and his fellow CMOS say: “There are no risk-free options
“But lack of schooling increases inequalities, reduces the life chances of children and can exacerbate physical and mental health issues.”
The infection risk for children is low but, with 453,000 teachers returning to work and parents congregating at schools gates, the scientists expect spikes.
And in a TV interview today, Prof Whitty says that would mean localised shutdowns with certain businesses closing – a move that cost Leicester £10million.
The Goverment’s scientific advisory group says the R rate is now between 0.8 and 1.1 in London, the North West and South West.
That figure represents the number of people on av average an infected person passe passes the virus on to.
Most of England’s 32,000 sc schools will begin a phased r return a week tomorrow.
Children aged five to seven will be kept in class bubbles of 30. Older children will be in y year-size bubbles.
They will do the same number of hours as before the pandemic, but with arrival and departure times, lunches and breaks staggered to keep bubbles apart.
Mobile testing units will turn up if there is an outbreak, starting with the affected class and then testing the entire school if necessary.
Parents face £120 fines if they refuse to send their children back. The medical officers say children are at low risk of becoming ill. And child Covid-19 death rates are lower than for flu. Out of more than 55,000 hospitalised Covid patients, only 0.8% were younger than 19.