Rapid review of virus in schools in bid to prove pupils are safe
Move to reassure parents as the PM reiterates his commitment to getting lessons going again
NO 10 has asked the Chief Medical Officer to publish a review of the evidence on transmission of Covid-19 in educational settings, in an effort to show that schools are safe to reopen.
Prof Chris Whitty is being asked to carry out a rapid evaluation of the research to provide parents with more reassurance before the new term starts.
One study, to be published later this week, will show that despite 60 clusters in schools and nurseries in June and July, not one child has been hospitalised. Preliminary results from a larger study by Public Health England (PHE) are next week expected to confirm that there is very little evidence that the virus is transmitted in schools.
Downing Street has asked Prof Whitty to carry out a rapid review of the evidence.
Later this week, PHE will publish a report into 60 clusters of cases which occurred in schools in England between June 1 and July 20.
It reveals the largest outbreak involved just nine cases, with no deaths linked to transmission within schools. No children ended up in hospital, the study will say, although three members of staff did. The research also found the only death of a teacher from Covid was linked to household transmission, with no suspected or confirmed cases in the school in which they worked.
Next week, PHE will publish the preliminary findings of research into more than 100 schools, which is expected to provide reassurance about low levels of transmission within schools.
But it was reported last night that the report will show that while the virus has not circulated widely in primary schools, secondary school pupils are likely to transmit Covid as easily as adults. Scientists at PHE believe tougher rules are needed for older children, according to The Times.
The Prime Minister said that if local lockdowns had to be imposed, schools would be the “absolute last” things to close – after social restrictions or the closure of pubs, restaurants and shops had been imposed.
Unions threatened to teach on a “week on, week off ” basis if there was a Covid resurgence. But Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said such moves would not make much difference.
Prof Viner, a member of the Government’s scientific advisory group for emergencies, told Today on BBC Radio 4: “It actually appears to make very little difference to the overall risk, the overall population R [virus reproduction rate]. If you get the mitigations right, which is particularly a test and trace system that is effective and is linked to schools and local public systems, if we get that right, then actually the rota systems appear to make very little difference, and make very little difference to the risk to teachers.”
‘Other venues would be expected to be closed first in the event of strict local lockdown measures’
Boris Johnson has urged local authorities to keep schools open even in the event of local lockdowns.
On a visit to a school in east London yesterday, he said: “We think that education is the priority for the country and that is simple social justice. The way we are trying to manage the Covid pandemic is to have local measures in place and local test and trace to introduce restrictions.
“But, as we have all said, the last thing we want to do is to close schools.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman later said: “Other venues would be expected to be closed first in the event that strict lockdown measures would have to be applied.”
He said a “detailed and robust plan” had been developed in the event of pupils coming down with the virus, and added that “local directors of public health would agree appropriate measures with the schools”.