At the 80th Meeting of SAGE on 11th
February (1), SAGE recommended the phased reopening of schools.
They said, “60. There are a number of uncertainties in the
modelling including the potential network implications of
reopening schools. A phased reopening would allow the effects to
be assessed which would be particularly valuable if schools were
one of the first things to reopen, as there will be more
uncertainties in the early stages of releasing measures (e.g.
around the impact of vaccines).”
At the SPI-M-O meeting on 27th January (2), the
committee said,
“5. An initial, limited, and cautious reopening of schools
(e.g. primary schools only) for a time limited period, in the
absence of easing other restrictions, would allow for an
assessment of the impact on community transmission.”
At the SPI-M-O meeting on 10th February (3), the
committee estimated that the full reopening of schools would
raise R by between 40 and 60%. They estimated that reopening
primary schools would only increase R by 10%.
Yesterday, the Office for National Statistics released their
report Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey:
characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 in
England (4) which showed that teachers and other education
professionals have the fourth highest risk of infection from
coronavirus. This contradicts the many reassurances school staff
have been given by Government that they are not at great risk of
infection.
Commenting on these extracts, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint
General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Time and again in this pandemic the Government have not followed
the science, closing schools too late and then opening them too
early.
“The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments are reopening
their schools in a phased way as SAGE have recommended. This is
the sensible way forward for England, too. We all want to see
schools and colleges open, but it must be done sustainably.
“Boris Johnson has pressed ahead with this gamble on the wider
opening of schools and colleges in one swoop and ignored the
advice for a phased return. To mitigate against this and prevent
another lockdown it is incumbent now for Government to ensure
robust safety measures are in place in our schools and colleges.
Testing and the wearing of face masks in secondary-school and
college classrooms is a step forward, but we also need to see the
issues of ventilation in classrooms and PPE for staff addressed
in these coming weeks.
"The Prime Minister said the wider opening of schools is a
national priority. He needs to treat it as such and do what is
necessary to make it work. This will ensure school staff, pupils,
families and the wider community are protected, and the R rate is
kept down."
ENDS
Editor’s Note
1. SAGE 80 minutes: Coronavirus
(COVID-19) response, 11 February 2021
2. SPI-M-O: Statement on relaxation
of NPIs and the re-opening of schools - 27 January 2021
3. SPI-M-O: Consensus statement on
COVID-19 - 10 February 2021
4. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection
Survey: characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19
in England, 22 February 2021
