CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus: Primary schools ‘safe to open soon’

Outbreaks were recorded in 3 per cent of primary schools during the autumn term, with most cases among teachers
Outbreaks were recorded in 3 per cent of primary schools during the autumn term, with most cases among teachers
MICHAEL PROBST/AP

Primary schools can safely reopen after half-term if cases keep falling, government health advisers have concluded.

Public Health England (PHE) said that there was now a “strong case” for the return to class, adding more pressure on Boris Johnson to set out a timetable for primary schools to reopen.

Pupils in that age group are “resistant” to wider coronavirus trends and play a small role in spreading infection, a series of comprehensive studies has concluded.

Outbreaks were recorded in 3 per cent of primary schools during the autumn term, with most cases among teachers rather than pupils, PHE found. “Everything we have learnt from the summer half-term and the recent autumn term indicates that they are safe to remain open,” Shamez Ladhani, its chief schools