Ongoing symptoms hit 'one in 10' pupils

More than one in 10 secondary school pupils and over a third of staff who had Covid-19 have suffered ongoing symptoms, figures suggest.

The most common symptom reported by pupils was weakness and tiredness, while staff were more likely to experience shortness of breath, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS estimates that about 35.7% of staff and 12.3% of secondary school pupils with a previously confirmed C ovid -19 infection reported experiencing ongoing symptoms more than four weeks from the start of the infection.

Among those experiencingongoing symptoms ,15.5% of staff and 9.4% of secondary school pupils said their ability to carry out day-to-day activities had been reduced.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said :" This survey data reveals the largely hidden long-term effects of Covid on both students and school and college staff.

"It is pleasing to note that, despite suffering ongoing and debilitating symptoms, more than half of the staff and young people had returned to the classroom within four weeks of initially testing positive.

"We obviously have concerns about the number of staff reporting that their ability to perform their normal day-to-day duties had been affected by ongoing corona virus symptoms such as tiredness and shortness of breath.

"These findings reinforce the importance of the Covid vaccination programme, including 12 to 15-year-olds, in helping to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in schools and colleges."