Schools CAN’T all go back at once or UK risks huge second coronavirus spike, Dominic Raab warns

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SCHOOLS can’t all go back at once because it will risk a huge second spike of coronavirus, Dominic Raab warned today.

The Foreign Secretary delivered the news that many students will still be learning from home even if some children return to classrooms at the daily No10 briefing.

Schools won’t all be able to go back at once – or the UK risks a huge second wave
Dominic Raab COVID-19 briefing 05/05/2020

Mr Raab said: “I think the one thing I can say with confidence is the evidence has been that we wouldn’t be able to open up all schools, without a very real risk that the R rate or the transmission rate would rise at such a level that we would risk a second spike.”

He added: “The crucial bit for us is the five tests, and the risk of have a second spike in relation to any new changes that we would make but that must of course include schools.”

The most critical of the Government’s five tests for ending lockdown is that no adjustments to measures would cause a second wave of deadly coronavirus infections in the UK.

Ministers are looking closely at plans to reopen schools, starting with those in primary school aged 10-11, on June 1.

Other pupils in years 10 and 12 would then follow if it was safe to do so.

Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman said there is a “great deal of logic” in first moving younger kids back into the classroom.

The plans have started a row among parents and teachers over the safety of pupils if schools reopened, with some parents worrying they may be fined if they keep their kids at home.

Headteachers around the UK have said they are scared schools will reopen to soon – because students and staff may not be safe.

Mr Raab said the UK would be watching closely countries, such as Denmark, which have already started reopening schools.

He said: “One of the things we can do is to watch very carefully (at those) countries that have reopened their schools and see what happens there.

“So that’s one of the several things we are doing in order to make a decision based on as much science as we can find about what is likely to happen.”

Deputy Chief Scientific adviser Angela McLean said the science on how easily kids can catch and spread coronavirus was far from certain.

She said: “I do know that there are some profound uncertainties and the underlying data about how likely children are to catch COVID-19 and how infectious they would be if they caught it.

“It’s really quite difficult to trace because they tend not have symptoms, all their symptoms are very mild if they do catch it.

“So, there’s not very much data because there haven’t been many children with symptoms.”

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon suggested today schools in Scotland may not reopen until August – in a worrying sign for children and their parents grappling with home schooling.

When asked about reports British schools could reopen on June 1, Ms Sturgeon said she did not think it was the right thing to do.

She said: “I cannot and should not comment on whether that is appropriate for England … but I do know, looking at the evidence I have now, I could not put my hand on my heart and say that would be a safe thing to do in Scotland.”