Covid: Schools could be kept closed in January to stop the new strain

Ministers are reportedly considering keeping schools closed in January amid fears that the new mutant strain of Covid-19 is spreading faster among children.

Scientists advising the government said the virus rate continued to rise in some areas during the second shutdown, when schools were open but more adults were staying home.

The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (Nervtag) believes this could be because the new variant spreads much more “effectively” in younger people than the original strain.

The teachers’ unions have written to Boris Johnson demanding that he delay reopening schools in January as the new variant emerges across the country.

The National Education Union (NEU) has called for distance learning during the first two weeks of the quarter so that schools have time to establish accurate and effective mass testing systems.

Last week, the government said that the reopening of secondary schools and universities in England after Christmas will not be delayed, but will be staggered.

But on Monday, Boris Johnson hinted that there could be a big U-turn when he said returning students to classrooms in the New Year would be kept under review.

When asked directly if the schools would reopen on time, he said: “The most helpful thing I can tell you at this stage is that we obviously want, if possible, for the schools to reopen in a phased manner in early January.”

He did not rule out keeping schools closed, saying that “the most logical thing is to follow the path of the epidemic.”

According to the Daily Telegraph, ministers are now mulling over plans to keep schools closed throughout January to control the virus.

A government source told the newspaper that the decision depended on “finding more data from the data.”

It comes after Professor Neil Ferguson, the Imperial College London epidemiologist who works at Nervtag and was instrumental in pushing forward the first lockdown in March, raised concerns about the new strain in children.

He said the data so far suggested that the new variant “has a greater propensity to infect children” with “statistically significantly higher” rates found among those under 15 years of age compared to the standard virus.

Meanwhile, Professor Wendy Barclay, a member of Nervtag, said that some of the observed changes in mutations had caused “red flags” because they appear to facilitate the spread of viruses.

The latest figures from London, the epicenter of the new Covid strain, show that cases are highest among secondary school students.

The data is particularly concerning because scientists had previously thought that the virus was less easily spread in school-age children.

On Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock also hinted at a change of address.

When asked by the BBC’s Andrew Marr if he could guarantee that level four schools would not be closed, as was the case across the country during the first shutdown, he said: “I have learned not to rule out anything in this pandemic.”

The Commissioner for Children has warned that keeping schools closed for longer in January would be a ‘mistake’ and would mean sacrificing children’s learning and well-being in order to prioritize other sectors of society such as gyms and shops.

Hopes that schools will be able to return are based on a massive testing program for students.

The Government announced last week that access to rapid tests for coronavirus will be implemented in all secondary schools and universities in England from January.

Interior Minister Priti Patel told Sky News on Tuesday that the government would take “appropriate” measures in schools, but added: “I want to emphasize the role that mass testing plays.”

However, the plan has been criticized by professors who lamented the “hasty and ill-thought-out” timing of the announcement.

School leaders and principals said they were still waiting for more guidance on how the mass testing will work on Friday, even though many schools have separated for Christmas.

The Department of Education has insisted that the “great expansion” of rapid tests “will help secondary schools to remain open to all students and reduce the risk of transmission within local communities.”

A spokesperson said: ‘As the Secretary of Education has pointed out, the path of the pandemic is changing and therefore we must act now. That’s why our huge expansion of rapid tests will help high schools remain open to all students and reduce the risk of transmission within local communities.

“The Medical Director has always been clear about the importance of children attending school for their mental health, well-being and development. As such, it is important that all students return to school full time whenever possible.

‘Schools, universities, and early childhood education centers across the country have worked tremendously hard to implement protective measures that help reduce the risk of virus transmission and the Department will continue to support local authorities and schools to open and remain open. next quarter.

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