More than 60 schools have reported coronavirus cases and have had to send pupils and teachers home, less than one week into the school term.
In Liverpool, more than 200 children and 21 staff are now quarantining for 14 days after positive coronavirus tests in eight schools. A Suffolk school has closed after five teachers tested positive for covid-19. One of the schools affected is Castle Rock School in Coalville, where Prime Minister Johnson had visited to tell pupils not to be worried about coronavirus on returning to school.
During education questions yesterday, Labour MP Matt Western asked the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson if the government was keen they ‘have this under control’ to which he responded, ‘Very much so’, adding: ‘Our guidance is clear that if schools implement the actions set out in our system of controls in our guidance they will effectively reduce risks in their schools and create an inherently safer environment for all to operate.’
After a rise in recent days in cases amongst young people especially, many are worrying that we could be seeing the start of a dangerous second wave, with younger people (who are less likely to be very ill) passing the virus onto the more vulnerable, causing more deaths and hospitalisations in coming weeks. It’s a pattern that has been seen in Europe previously. Health Secretary Matt Hancockadmitted concern about the pattern, saying: ‘That hasn't happened here yet. And if people follow the social distancing rules, then we can stop that from happening here.’
The problem of children having to spend time with other family members is no doubt being exacerbated by the lack of after-school and breakfast clubs being operated, while parents are being expected to return to work and the office full time.
While many are focusing on the children and whether they might pass on the virus to grandparents and older members of the community, teachers are on the frontline of this rise.
One trainee primary school teacher from Birmingham told us: ‘I didn’t think it would happen so soon, but knowing how school works, not really that surprising considering how many people are in the building at once - I know precautions have been taken but there’s still more that could have been done but haven’t been.
‘All the schools I know of they’ve done the best with what they’ve been given, but information is changing so last minute, it was a few days before schools were due to start before the face mask advice changed. A lot of the information is too little too late.
‘I don’t feel nervous, but I think that’s because I’m very aware that I’m young and healthy. I don’t feel confident that I won’t get Coronavirus - I think it’s quite likely and I’ve accepted that, but that’s because I don’t think I’ll get ill. I know teachers who’ve had to return to work who are highly vulnerable. I know there are teachers at work who are worried and they’re also nervous about expressing their concern because not everyone feels the same.
‘I don’t think a solution would be to close schools - it’s so important that they’re open and I’m so glad they are - but they could have eased into opening schools - it feels like too much at once, we’ve been chucked in at the deep end.’
Concerns about a second wave are building it seems – on Sunday the government announced 2,988 new cases, the highest figure since May 22. Another 2,948 cases were reported on Monday. The UK’s figure for new cases of Covid-19 has now risen about 20 per 100,000 people – that’s the level at which the government considers imposing quarantine conditions on people travelling into the country.