Secondary pupils are blamed for rise in infections

SECONDARY school pupils are now playing a “significantly higher role” in bringing infections into households, the Government’s scientific advisers have said, but they admit they could be catching it from socialising outside of school.

Since September the prevalence of coronavirus among children aged 12 to 16 has increased, as has their role in transmitting it to their families, according to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).

Their analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics “indicates clearly that children can bring infection into the household and transmit to other household members”. Separate ONS data showed that secondary school students now have the highest rate of infection of any age group in society.

Teachers’ unions last night renewed their calls for a move to teaching on a week-on, week-off basis, saying there was a “clear and sharp trend in infection rates among secondary school pupils in particular since the start of term”.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The situation is untenable and widespread disruption will continue unless the Government takes steps to get coronavirus under control in schools.”

Sage noted that while the increase in infections among children “coincided” with s chools re opening, it was “unproven” and “difficult to establish” whether transmissions were occurring inside schools or not.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “Children are at very low risk from the virus, and staff are not at higher risk than those working in other sectors.”