[h=1]Risk of coronavirus spreading in schools 'extremely low', study finds[/h]
[FONT="]Europe
Coronavirus does not spread widely in schools, according to a major study being considered by Government advisers.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The research looked at 18 infected teachers and students in 15 schools and found that despite them coming into contact with 863 people at the schools, only two had been infected.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]It is the only major study of transmission among children and teachers and shows that the spread of the virus is "limited" in classrooms.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Previous studies have suggested that younger children are likely to only contract a mild form of coronavirus and do not play a major role in the spread of the disease, but this is the first time the spread of Covid-19 in primary and secondary schools has been directly studied. [/FONT]
[FONT="]It comes as the Government is locked in a battle with teaching unions over plans for primary school children in reception, Year One and Year Six in England to return from June 1.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Children only have one chance at education. Over the last decade we have made significant strides in closing the gap between the richest and poorest in our schools. This lockdown has put that at risk," the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told the Andrew Marr Show.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"If progressive countries like Denmark can be teaching children and have them back in schools, then so should we. The whole point about being a teacher is you love your job. It is a mission, a vocation, to be able to excite young minds."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organisation's chief scientist, also said on Sunday that "there have not been big outbreaks in schools" and the early results of studies are "very reassuring".[/FONT]
[FONT="]She said "the risks to children are extremely low with this infection, and there have not been many cases described of children transmitting it to others, particularly within school settings".[/FONT]
[FONT="]Dr Swaminathan added that, from what is currently known, it appears that "children are less capable of spreading it even if they get the infection, and certainly are at very low risk of getting ill from the disease". [/FONT]
[FONT="]Europe
Coronavirus does not spread widely in schools, according to a major study being considered by Government advisers.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The research looked at 18 infected teachers and students in 15 schools and found that despite them coming into contact with 863 people at the schools, only two had been infected.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]It is the only major study of transmission among children and teachers and shows that the spread of the virus is "limited" in classrooms.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Previous studies have suggested that younger children are likely to only contract a mild form of coronavirus and do not play a major role in the spread of the disease, but this is the first time the spread of Covid-19 in primary and secondary schools has been directly studied. [/FONT]
[FONT="]It comes as the Government is locked in a battle with teaching unions over plans for primary school children in reception, Year One and Year Six in England to return from June 1.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Children only have one chance at education. Over the last decade we have made significant strides in closing the gap between the richest and poorest in our schools. This lockdown has put that at risk," the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told the Andrew Marr Show.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"If progressive countries like Denmark can be teaching children and have them back in schools, then so should we. The whole point about being a teacher is you love your job. It is a mission, a vocation, to be able to excite young minds."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organisation's chief scientist, also said on Sunday that "there have not been big outbreaks in schools" and the early results of studies are "very reassuring".[/FONT]
[FONT="]She said "the risks to children are extremely low with this infection, and there have not been many cases described of children transmitting it to others, particularly within school settings".[/FONT]
[FONT="]Dr Swaminathan added that, from what is currently known, it appears that "children are less capable of spreading it even if they get the infection, and certainly are at very low risk of getting ill from the disease". [/FONT]