The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Don’t panic over virus in schools, says expert
Government adviser insists cases in Courier Country reflect community transmission
People should be worried but not panic about Covid-19 cases in Tayside and Fife schools, according to an academic advising the government response to the epidemic.
Professor Stephen Reicher said the 50 cases at 10 schools, a nursery and an outof-school club in Dundee, Perthshire and Fife were a reflection of increasing infection rates in the community and more are likely.
The St Andrews University social psychologist advises both Westminster and Holyrood as a member of the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) behavioural group and the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 advisory group.
He said: “Of course we should be worried, any infection is worrying. This is an unpleasant disease and we are learning more about it all the time.”
Children are as likely to be hit by lightning as to die from the virus, he said, but added: “We don’t yet know a number of things, like its long-term effects on health in young people. It might be none but it’s too early to tell.
“The science is still in flux around the question of transmission between children so we should be worried enough to be careful but I don’t think we should be so worried as to feel panicky or to feel that we are in the midst of a catastrophe.
“The Scottish Government and health authorities have stressed there remains no evidence of transmission within schools.”
Only three of the 40 cases associated with Kingspark School, Dundee, were in pupils, while there were two linked cases at Happy Times out-of-school club.
The other schools – Grove Academy, Queen Anne High School, St John’s RC Academy, St Clement’s, SS Peter and Paul’s, Newhill and Oakbank primary schools – and Newburgh Primary School nursery – had only single cases.
Prof Reicher said: “The evidence seems to suggest thus far these are cases brought into the schools from the community rather than examples of transmission in schools and reinfecting the community. That could occur but as yet doesn’t seem to be occurring so this is more a reflection of what’s going on in the community, rather than a specific problem for schools.”
If there is the threat of schools closing, Prof Reicher said the country must be careful to avoid steps which increase community transmission.
He said: “Scotland is doing better than England on this by a long way.
“We might have to ask ourselves the question ‘what is more important, pubs or pupils?’
“At the moment in England, as they are opening schools they are telling people to go back to work when they can work at home and I don’t think that’s helpful. Nevertheless, at some point we might have to ask ourselves the question ‘what is more important, pubs or pupils?’
“We might have to think about those spaces which are leading to transmission.
“There may be some tough choices down the road but, equally, everybody has got their responsibilities.”