Education secretary, Gavin Williamson, has claimed that there is little evidence of coronavirus transmission in schools, as educational establishments prepare to reopen as early as tomorrow.
Williamson said that the government plan was heavily informed by science, as it continues to develop plans to allow schools to reopen in England next month. Schools in Scotland will begin to reopen tomorrow.
In a statement released yesterday, Williamson wrote that the "latest research, which is expected to be published later this year - one of the largest studies on the coronavirus in schools in the world", indicates that “there is little evidence that the virus is transmitted at school".
Advisers have warned the government that they have already reached the limit of what can safely be reopened. Williamson, however, has suggested that an upcoming study could support the government’s current standpoint on the reopening of schools.
His comments follow the prime minister’s statement that the reopening of schools was the government’s "national priority".
It is believed that Boris Johnson, who is expected to visit schools later today, will not hesitate to close other establishments prior to schools in the event of further local lockdowns.
Helen Whately, the care minister, has said the government’s “priority is to make sure that children are fully back in school come the autumn." She continued that were local lockdowns to occur, pupils and teachers alike would "immediately have access to testing" should the need arise.
Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that reopening schools was "one of the least risky things we can do".
