Scientists have cautioned against the reopening of schools after findings suggested children could be as infectious as adults.
The study, which was carried out by the team of leading German virologist Christian Drosten, found that even though children tended to have far milder symptoms, those infected appeared to have the same levels of circulating virus in their body as adults. This suggests schools and nurseries could act as hubs of Covid-19 transmission if current restrictions are lifted.
The study’s findings came as Unicef warned that the low number of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils attending UK schools was “deeply concerning”, raising the risk of their education and safety being badly affected by the coronavirus crisis – particularly if schools are seen as hotbeds of infection.
Department for Education figures show just one in 10 pupils classed as vulnerable – those in care, with a social worker or with certified special needs or disabilities – went to school in England last week, despite being encouraged to do so.
Unicef’s views were echoed by the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which issued a stern warning that GCSE and A-level grade assessments this summer should not unfairly penalise children from minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as disabled pupils and those with special educational needs.
Source: Coronavirus: scientists caution against reopening schools
