Missing school is more harmful long term to Harrogate children than Covid-19, health director says
and live on Freeview channel 276
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, North Yorkshire's director of public health, said the risk of pupils getting seriously ill from Covid-19 is dwarfed by what he described as the "certainty of long-term harm" if they do not attend classes.
“Very few, if any, children or teenagers will come to long-term harm from Covid-19 due solely to attending school," he said.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"There is an overwhelming need for children and young people to return to school now, not just so they can catch up with their missed studies and go on and fulfil their academic potential in the future, but also for their mental health, their well-being and their wider development."
Harrogate car parks returning close to pre-lockdown levels in sign more shoppers are hitting the high streets
Thousands of pupils have begun returning from today, Wednesday, after North Yorkshire County Council said all students, in all year groups, are expected back behind their desks.
Teachers have more than three months of schooling to catch up on, and classrooms will look different with one-way systems, screens keeping students apart and staggered start times.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSome vulnerable pupils and key worker children did attend classes before the summer holidays. During this period, Dr Sargeant said schools did not see any virus outbreaks despite identifying individual cases, almost all of which were parents and staff.
He said there is "clear evidence from many studies" that the vast majority of children who catch Covid-19 have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Dr Sargeant said that early evidence suggests the reopening of schools elsewhere has not usually been followed by a surge in cases, although "there has not been sufficient time to say this with confidence".
He added any outbreaks in schools would most likely come as a result of a local or national surge in transmission in the community.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“We are mindful that opening schools may link households indirectly or directly to transmission in schools", he said.
"For example, allowing parents to go back to work, or meeting at the school gates, on public transport or in shared private vehicles, via after school social or sport activities or wrap-around care may be as important as what happens within the school."
By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.