Osama Rahman admitted children could become dangerous super spreaders because they suffer mild or no symptoms
The chief scientific adviser for the Department of Education has today admitted the government’s plan to reopen schools in June could risk spreading the coronavirus.
Osama Rahman said a growing body of evidence had suggested children were much more likely to suffer much mild or no coronavirus symptoms compared to adults.
But he admitted this could threaten outbreaks in crowded schools which are unable to enforce social distancing, and potentially lead to pupils spreading the disease in the wider community.
Boris Johnson plans to send pupils in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back to schools in England from the start of next month as part of a phased easing of lockdown.
But the plans have been slammed as ‘reckless’ by teaching unions who are demanding assurances for school staff.
Speaking at a virtual House of Commons Science and Technology Committee meeting today, Mr Rahman was grilled by SNP MP Carol Monaghan.
The MP for Glasgow North West said: ‘As a former teacher I don’t think the profession is going to be at all satisfied by what we’re hearing at the moment.’
She pressed him on transmission of the virus among young children, and whether their mild symptoms made them more likely to be super-spreaders.
Mr Rahman said: ‘SAGE (The Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) has a low degree of confidence that they might transmit it less.
‘The view is that there is no evidence that children transmit virus more than adults, some studies that they might transmit it less than adults. But this science is mixed, and it’s quite early.’
Asked by Mrs Monaghan whether this meant that schools could become hotspots where children can catch the disease and spread it further, Mr Rahman said: ‘Possibly, depending on school sizes.’
Scientific advisers to the Home Office, Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government, also took questions from the Commons committee.
It also emerged that:
- Nearly 100,000 people flew into Britain in April alone, when the country was supposed to be in full lockdown;
- Environmental health officers could be deployed in supermarkets to police social distancing;
- Britain is not looking to implement any coronavirus testing at its borders or in airports, despite growing concern for aviation industry and businesses;
- At least one child has died from a mysterious inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus.
Speaking at a virtual House of Commons Science and Technology Committee meeting today, Mr Rahman (left) was grilled by SNP MP Carol Monaghan (right)
Schools like this one in Altrincham have stayed open for vulnerable children and key worker families, but ministers want more pupils to return from June 1
The worrying admission comes as unions demand ministers ‘step back’ from plans to reopen schools in England from June 1, saying there is not enough ‘protection’ for staff and pupils.
A joint statement issued through the Trades Union Congress complains of a ‘lack of understanding’ of the risks faced by teachers and children, with no provision for social distancing.
The intervention came as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson admitted the plan to get some primary school years back next month was ‘challenging’.
But he added the government was following ‘the best scientific and medical advice’. and stressed that tests will be available for any staff and children with symptoms.
Boris Johnson’s lockdown ‘road map’ set out that children could return to nurseries, and for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils to be back in school, from June 1 at the earliest.
The PM said he wants all primary school pupils in England to go back to school for a month before the summer. However, both Scotland and Wales have dismissed the timetable.
Unions have already urged staff not to ‘engage’ with the government plans. And nine, representing school leaders, teachers and support staff, today accused the Government of showing a ‘lack of understanding’ about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus in schools.
The joint statement, from organisations including the NAHT school leaders’ union and the National Education Union (NEU), said: ‘We call on the Government to step back from June 1 and work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools based on the principles and tests we have set out.’
Professor John Aston – chief scientific adviser to the Home Office – said around 95,000 people arrived in the UK by plane between April 1 and 26, including 53,000 UK citizens
‘We all want schools to reopen, but that should only happen when it is safe to do so.
‘The Government is showing a lack of understanding about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus within schools, and outwards from schools to parents, sibling and relatives, and to the wider community.’
The Department for Education (DfE) issued guidelines on Monday which said primary school class sizes should be limited to 15 pupils and outdoor space should be utilised.
The advice, on how to safely reopen schools, calls for lunch and break times to be staggered, as well as drop-off and pick-up times, to reduce the number of pupils moving around.
On the guidance, the joint statement from the unions added: ‘Uniquely, it appears, school staff will not be protected by social distancing rules.
’15 children in a class, combined with their very young age, means that classrooms of four and five-year-olds could become sources of Covid-19 transmission and spread.’
‘We do not think that the Government should be posing this level of risk to our society,’ it said.
In the Commons this afternoon, Mr Williamson said all teachers and pupils will have access to Covid-19 tests if they develop symptoms when they return to schools.
Mr Williamson said he had set out ‘protective measures to minimise the risk of infection, including restricting class sizes and limiting mixing between groups’.
‘Crucially all children and staff will have access to testing if they develop symptoms of coronavirus,’ he said.
‘This will enable a track-and-trace approach to be taken to any confirmed cases.’
Mr Williamson acknowledged allowing pupils to return to school will be ‘challenging’.
He added: ‘We continue to follow the best medical and scientific advice and believe that this phased return is the most sensible course of action to take.
‘I know that this will be challenging but I know that nursery, school and college staff will do everything in their power to start welcoming our children back to continue their education.’
He went on: ‘When you have medical and scientific advice that is saying it’s the right time to start bringing schools back in a phased and controlled manner, it seems only the right thing to do and the only responsible thing to do.’
The Education Secretary said the Government has worked ‘very closely with all the teaching unions and headteachers’ unions’.
‘This is what’s informed and developed the guidance we have shared with schools,’ Mr Williamson said.
He added: ‘The reason we’re bringing schools back is we know that children benefit from being educated by their brilliant teachers in front of them.
‘We recognise children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are the ones who are going to suffer the most if we do not bring schools back when we’re able to do so.
‘I’m more than happy to share all the advice we have received from Sage.’
Mr Williamson said he is looking ‘very closely’ at proposals for summer school catch-up tuition.