Evidence ‘Too Weak' To Let Schools Reopen Say Teaching Unions

Teaching unions refused to back down in their opposition to schools reopening next month, despite advice that their members were not at a greater risk from Covid-19.

- Macer Hall

Government scientific advice released yesterday said the “balance of evidence” pointed towards children being less likely to carry the virus than adults.

But the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) acknowledged that the evidence was “inconclusive”.

The Sage papers suggest that younger teachers’ attendance in schools could be prioritised in order to decrease the likelihood of infection for school staff in more vulnerable age groups.

“Evidence remains inconclusive on both the susceptibility and infectivity of children, but the balance of evidence suggests that both may be lower than in adults,” the Sage document said.

Last month, Professor Russell Viner, of University College London, and Dr Rosalind Eggo, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said UK clinical data confirmed that children have notably less symptomatic disease and of lower severity than adults.

They said: “Evidence remains inconclusive on both susceptibility and transmissibility of children, but balance of evidence suggesting both may be lower.”