Impact of coronavirus on children is ‘significantly less’, ministers say

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THE impact of coronavirus on kids is “significantly less”, Michael Gove said today.

The Cabinet Office minister said this morning that children are “less likely to have symptoms” and get as sick as older people have.

Kids do suffer from coronavirus with milder symptoms than adults, Gove says

Micheal Gove said today that kids do suffer less than other ages

He played down fears that kids could be at risk when they return to school, after several studies have shown the same conclusions.

Children represent just a small number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, with the risk of becoming seriously ill increasing as a person gets older.

There is a wealth of evidence which suggested if kids do get sick, they will get much milder symptoms than adults.

However, there have still been a handful of cases of children in the UK becoming seriously ill and dying – including 13-year-old Mohamed Abdulwahab who died in hospital in March.

Yesterday eight-month old Alexander Parsons died of coronavirus-related Kawasaki disease, too.

But it’s not clear whether children have a lower risk of catching the disease in the first place, or what their risk of passing it on to others is.
Scientists are still divided on the exact impact, and only a few in-depth bits of research have been done.

Mr Gove said today: “We know that children contract coronavirus but the impact is significantly less.

“They are less likely to have symptoms, less likely to have serious symptoms than older citizens.”

His words reflect the advice that ministers published on Friday on why it IS safe for kids to return to the classroom.

It said “there is a high degree of confidence that the severity of the virus in children is lower than in adults”.

And he promised that children and teachers will be as “safe as possible” in schools when they do go back.

The Cabinet Office minister said “we are confident that children and teachers will be safe” going back from June 1 – but admitted the safety of everyone could never be 100 per cent guaranteed.

It comes after a long row between unions and the Government about whether or not it’s right for kids to return to classrooms from next month.

Critics say it’s not enough time and are concerned having kids back will see the rate of the virus spread creep up again.

Ministers hope reopening schools will be a key step in getting Britain moving again as the country emerges from almost two months of coronavirus lockdown.

Kids will have classroom limits, spaced out desks and staggered classes and year groups in on different days.

And Mr Gove told the BBC today: “Yes, teachers will be safe in schools.

“I talked to the chief scientific adviser yesterday.

“Running through the figures, the R number, we are confident that children and teachers will be safe”, providing the right measures are in place.

He added that it is “extremely unlikely” that any school will be the source of a Covid-19 outbreak.

“We know that school settings are not the source of infection that some have feared; we know that they can be made safe and appropriate working places,” he said.

But when grilled on the claims he stressed: “you can never eliminate risk” and added: “There is always, always, always, in any loosening of these restrictions, a risk of people catching the coronavirus.”

Ministers have released reams of documents for schools to help them get ready for the return, advising that classes be limited to 15 and desks be kept apart.

It accepts that younger people can’t be kept two metres apart but uses the idea of small “bubbles” that don’t mix with others to keep contact limited.

Boris Johnson has said schools can return from June 1 onwards – but only if it’s safe to do so.

But Mr Gove said today they couldn’t guarantee that no one would get Covid as a result of returning to the classroom.

He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “We can guarantee that steps are being taken to ensure that children and those who work in schools are as safe as possible.

“The only way you can ensure you don’t get Covid is by staying at home with no social contact with anyone.”

The Cabinet Office minister said he has “been assured that a staged and careful return is the best way to make sure the people most in need get the education they need”.
The longer schools remain shut, the more the divide between the privileged and less privileged will grow, he stressed.

The government has already said it will not impose fines on those mums and dads who continue to keep their children out school due to the coronavirus.

Today the head teachers’ union the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has now said it will be advising its members to reopen schools on June 1, reports HOARday Times.

The National Association of Head Teachers has also suggested it would back reopening primaries if it was given the government’s full scientific advice.

It comes after its leaders met with the government’s chief medical officer and chief scientific officer on Friday, but most of them demanded more answers to their questions before advising members to return to schools.

Other teaching unions have advised their members to not engage with the government’s plans.

Other countries in Europe have already begun to reopen their schools, such as Denmark, France and Germany.

Mr Gove said today: “If progressive countries like Denmark can have children back in schools, then so should we.”