The lack of robust mitigation measures in schools puts children at greater risk of covid-19 infection and its consequences<\/p>\n
To:\u00a0<\/span> Dear Mr Williamson,<\/span><\/p>\n We write as researchers, parents, and educators concerned about the impact of the pandemic on children\u2019s education. Like you, and in agreement with the <\/span>World Health Organization<\/span><\/a> (WHO), we recognise the importance of schools staying open over the autumn and in the longer term. However, as the WHO also notes, schools must be made safe by adopting measures to minimise transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We are therefore writing to express our concerns about the lack of mitigations for children and educational staff, and the subsequent risk to children from covid-19 as schools reopen in England this September. We offer nine evidence based recommendations to reduce new infections in children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Children have suffered significant harms from covid-19. In just the past two months there have been <\/span>over 2300 hospitalisations<\/span><\/a> of under 18s in England. There are an estimated 34 000 children living with long covid in the UK already, with 22 000 reporting significant impacts on their day to day activities, 7000 of whom have had symptoms for more than a year (<\/span>Office for National Statistics<\/span><\/a>). Up to <\/span>one in seven<\/span><\/a> of those infected are expected to have persisting symptoms at <\/span>12-15 weeks<\/span><\/a>. Long covid can be associated with multisystem disease in some children, including persistent cognitive symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 is a neurotrophic and pro-inflammatory virus with neuroinvasive potential that can infect the brain, with <\/span>structural brain changes<\/span><\/a> having been observed in adults, including those with mild infection. Allowing mass infection of children is therefore reckless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The evidence from <\/span>Scotland<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>USA<\/span><\/a>, where schools reopened a few weeks ago, suggests that the lack of adequate mitigations will likely lead to infections spreading among children and significant absences due to student and staff illness, further disrupting learning.<\/span><\/p>\n Children are now returning to school against a background of community infection levels <\/span>26 times higher<\/span><\/a> than at the same time last year, and with the much more transmissible Delta variant accounting for almost all infections. Currently, one in 50 primary school children and one in 40 secondary school children have prevalent infection (<\/span>ONS<\/span><\/a>) and we are experiencing 40-50 hospitalisations in under 18s every day. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)\u00a0 has warned that schools returning will likely lead to significant<\/span> increases<\/span><\/a> in cases in school age groups. This will coincide with increased pressure on the NHS over winter due to other respiratory viruses, and potentially alongside waning SARS-CoV-2 immunity among the most vulnerable. This puts everyone at risk, \u200b\u200band exacerbates the additional burden on people from disadvantaged areas, as well as those predisposed to more severe disease from Black and Asian communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Both the <\/span>European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control<\/span><\/a> (ECDC) and the <\/span>US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(CDC) have recommended vaccination of teenagers, together with a combination of measures such as masking, small bubbles, testing, and improved ventilation in schools this autumn to keep children safer and in education. England has not followed this advice.<\/span> There has been no plan for robust mitigation measures in schools to reduce the risk to children from infection and the consequences thereof, including long covid, hospitalisations, staff safety, and educational disruption. In England there is no requirement for masks, bubbles, physical distancing, or contact tracing within schools. <\/span><\/p>\n Despite MHRA approval, the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has <\/span>not yet recommended<\/span><\/a> vaccination of all 12-15 year olds, and their recommendation to vaccinate 16-17 year olds has come <\/span>too late<\/span><\/a> to complete vaccination of adolescents before they return to schools, despite <\/span>clear evidence<\/span><\/a> that <\/span>benefits far outweigh<\/span><\/a> risk at current levels of infection. Meanwhile, <\/span>over 12 million<\/span><\/a> under 18s have been vaccinated <\/span>across the world<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n England\u2019s policies mean that we will soon have a large susceptible population with a high prevalence of infection mixing in crowded environments with hardly any mitigations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The government has a duty to protect children, our wider communities, and the NHS and healthcare workers from the impact of a fourth wave following schools re-opening. We suggest a nine point plan to achieve this:<\/span><\/p>\n The above measures should be implemented alongside multi-layered public health measures to reduce community transmission, which will also reduce the potential for outbreaks in educational settings, allowing children to remain in schools safely.<\/span><\/p>\n Deepti Gurdasani<\/strong>, Queen Mary University of London, UK<\/span><\/em> Competing interests<\/strong>: Zubaida Haque, Martin McKee, Susan Michie, Christina Pagel, Stephen Reicher, and Kit Yates are members of Independent SAGE. Nothing further declared.<\/p>\n On behalf of the full list of co-signatories listed below.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Scientists and healthcare professionals:<\/b><\/p>\n Dr. Deepti Gurdasani, Queen Mary University of London, UK Organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n One Voice Support Group for CV & CEV Families UK Parents\/Carers\/Educational staff<\/strong><\/p>\n Bernice Figa, Founder of One Voice Group UK The lack of robust mitigation measures in schools puts children at greater risk of covid-19 infection and its consequences […]<\/p>\n
\nThe Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP\u00a0<\/span>
\nSecretary of state for education\u00a0<\/span>
\nDepartment for Education\u00a0<\/span>
\n20 Great Smith Street\u00a0<\/span>
\nLondon<\/span>
\nSW1P 3BT<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\nYaneer Bar-Yam<\/strong>, New England Complex Systems Institute, USA, Founder World Health Network<\/span><\/em>
\nSpiros Denaxas<\/strong>, University College London, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nTrisha Greenhalgh<\/strong>, University of Oxford, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nStephen Griffin<\/strong>, University of Leeds, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nZubaida Haque<\/strong>, Independent SAGE, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nZo\u00eb Hyde<\/strong>, University of Western Australia, Australia<\/span><\/em>
\nAris Katzourakis<\/strong>, University of Oxford, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nMartin McKee<\/strong>, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nSusan Michie<\/strong>, University College London, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nChristina Pagel<\/strong>, University College London, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nStephen Reicher<\/strong>, University of St. Andrews, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nAlice Roberts<\/strong>, University of Birmingham, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nChristopher Tomlinson<\/strong>, University College London, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nKit Yates<\/strong>, University of Bath, UK<\/span><\/em>
\nHisham Ziauddeen<\/strong>, University of Cambridge, UK<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\nDr. Hisham Ziauddeen, University of Cambridge, UK
\nProf. Susan Michie, University College London, UK
\nProf. Christina Pagel, University College London, UK
\nDr. Zubaida Haque, Independent SAGE, UK
\nProf. Trisha Greenhalgh, University of Oxford, UK
\nDr. Stephen Griffin, University of Leeds, UK
\nProf. Martin McKee, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
\nDr Eric Feigl-Ding, Federation of American Scientists, US
\nDr. Zo\u00eb Hyde, University of Western Australia, Australia
\nProf. Aris Katzourakis, University of Oxford, UK
\nDr Kit Yates, University of Bath, UK
\nProf. Stephen Reicher, University of St. Andrews, UK
\nDr Joe Pajak, FRSC, CSci, NHS Foundation Trust Governor, UK
\nProf. Yaneer Bar-Yam, New England Complex Systems Institute, USA, Founder World Health Network.
\nDr. Christopher Tomlinson, University College London, UK
\nProf. Alice Roberts, University of Birmingham, UK
\nDr Eilir Hughes GP, Fresh Air Wales
\nDr. Alison George, GP, UK
\nProf. KK Cheng, University of Birmingham, UK
\nProf. Carlos Gershenson, Universidad Nacional Aut\u00f3noma de M\u00e9xico
\nGreta Fox, FNP-BC, COVID Action Group, World Health Network
\nProf. Spiros Denaxas, University College London, UK
\nProf. Matthias F Schneider, Technical University of Dortmund, Germany
\nDr S A Aftab, Chair BMA Yorkshire Consultant Committee, NHS Foundation Trust Governor, UK
\nProf. Sunil Raina, Head, Community Medicine, Dr. RP Govt. Medical College, India, World Health Network
\nC\u00e9cile Philippe, economist, Institut \u00e9conomique Molinari, World Health Network, France
\nDr. Gunhild Alvik Nyborg, researcher, Covid Action Group, Norway
\nJoshua P Cohen, health economist, independent healthcare analyst, Boston, Massachusetts
\nMargo Watroba, strategist, Business Economist, New England Complex Systems Institute, World Health Network, USA
\nElisa Zeno, research engineer, France
\nDr. Micha\u00ebl Rochoy, University of Lille, France
\nProf Andrew Ewing, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
\nDr. Asit Kumar Mishra, NUI Galway, Ireland
\nDr. Jonathan Howard, associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at NYU and chief of Neurology service at Bellevue hospital<\/p>\n
\nParents United UK
\nContamination Concerns During Covid-19 UK
\nSafeEdForAll
\nShields CIC
\nHazards Campaign
\nWorld Health Network
\nCovid Action Group
\nEcole et Familles Oubli\u00e9es, France<\/p>\n
\nStacey McCann, Co-Founder of One Voice Group UK
\nTony Dadd, Founder of Parents United UK
\nGemma Sewell, Co-Founder of Parents United UK
\nDavid Lawrence, Founder of Contamination Concerns UK
\nSarah LH Saul, parent and a founder of SafeEdForAll
\nLisa Diaz, Parent & co founder of SafeEdForAll
\nLeah Brady, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nClaire Cozler, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nCaroline Lea, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nLili Stevens, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nDr PIetra Palazzolo, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nDr Marc Redmile-Gordon, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nDr Nicola Spiller, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nSarah Beauchamp, Parent, SafeEdforAll
\nDaniella Modos-Cutter, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nLaura Scampioni, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nApril Booth, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nMichelle Tierney, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nJames Lck, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nSughra Nazir, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nJasmin Amor, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nPaul Hobden, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nMartin Corless, Parent, SafeEdForAll
\nNicky Hutchinson, Parent, Hive, SafeEdForAll
\nNina May Peters, Director Founder, ShieldUs CIC
\nEmmy Jane Kelly Campaigns Manager, Northern Ireland Manager, ShieldUs CIC
\nJanty Marsden, ShieldUs CIC
\nSally Marsden, ShieldUs CIC
\nGemma Tilbury, ShieldUs CIC
\nCaroline Reid, ShieldUs CIC
\nAngela Davidson, ShieldUs CIC
\nEthan Redmond, Mental Health Ambassador, ShieldUs CIC
\nIan Watkinson, NEU National Executive
\nLisa Clark
\nBex Hopkins
\nAmy Wolfs
\nCatherine Wilson
\nJames Marrinan
\nSteve McCann
\nDavid Wolfs
\nGeorgina Jobling
\nChris Sewell
\nAdam Hamdy, Author
\nSherrill Stroschein
\nJames Neill
\nSusan Foster
\nSue Wedlock
\nRuth Poerscout-Edgerton
\nJohn Poerscout-Edgerton
\nChris Fabby
\nEsther Hopkins
\nKim Wareham
\nJames Wareham
\nEllie Burton
\nTanya Berry
\nDamien Willey, Parent
\nHilda Pamer, Parent, Grandparent, Greater Manchester Hazards Centre
\nKirsty McNeil
\nLouise Richards.
\nSam Groves
\nC Davey
\nShelley Diment
\nChristina Janusz
\nRussell Flint
\nEmma Adams
\nDebra Kelly
\nPeter Kelly
\nKM Stubbs
\nShelley Nicholson
\nAlida Hussey
\nNichola Brown
\nJeannette Griffiths
\nMrs Daly
\nChristine Mattless
\nEmma Batista
\nLiesje Bargh
\nWilliam Hutchinson
\nChloe Leckie
\nNatalie Darby
\nT Tuttlebee
\nJanine Dye
\nClaire Hurley
\nElaine Pembro
\nBex Broadhurst
\nJay Waller
\nNeil Waller
\nSharon Case
\nLian Kent
\nLeah Waller-Hill
\nGemma Payne
\nMrs R Gray
\nElizabeth Hipkiss
\nRobert Fay
\nC Howard
\nLisa Russ
\nRebecca Mitchell
\nToli Kram
\nMs Alison Price
\nRachel Chapman
\nL Tarrant
\nCaroline Hanson
\nJosephine Unwin
\nA Brayford
\nSusan Fairbrother
\nDr Rebecca Bateman
\nClaire Murphy
\nAlan Dunn
\nKate Gill
\nEleanor Hipkiss
\nChris Iremonger
\nShelley Wilson
\nJ Dyer
\nRebecca McCarter
\nPaula Buckley
\nKirstie Morton
\nNatalie Collings
\nIan Blackmore
\nMichele Stansfield
\nHazel Boaler
\nKerry Knight
\nDavid Boaler
\nLeonie Graham
\nVictoria Stone
\nPamela Palmer
\nS Graham
\nL Mason
\nC Symons
\nRebecca Dennison
\nN Oliver
\nAmanda Whittaker
\nMs A Aldridge
\nKaren Moody
\nShaun Moody
\nJoanna Buckmaster
\nRose Stevens
\nAM Boom
\nFatima Ali
\nJennifer Chileshe
\nLisa Welsh
\nKatherine Cromwell
\nDaniela La Mancusa
\nD Harrison
\nC Cook
\nTara T
\nVera Silva
\nR A Cousins (Educator)
\nChiara Fontana Turner
\nLouise Springfield Horsfall
\nJoanne Richardson
\nLiz Heads
\nRoberta Rivieccio
\nStephanie Salgado
\nL Wilson
\nAdrian Taylor
\nCarmen Lau
\nMs Karen Clark
\nNatalie Nelmes
\nKatherine Knights
\nMs Harrison
\nAnna di Giacomo
\nKate Dinmore
\nNeil Dinmore
\nTamara Devereux
\nAbby Brigden
\nAmanda Jackson
\nJ Hayter
\nT Calvert
\nDavid Holt
\nLisa King
\nMrs V Bailey
\nNatalie Darby
\nTabbie Hunt
\nL Protheroe
\nEmma Kelly
\nAmy Blewitt
\nMiss Melanie doick
\nDr. Sarah Peake
\nSteve Quinn
\nAmy Doig
\nStephen C Quinn
\nAnna James
\nKaren Hayden
\nSimone Todd
\nSarah Holland
\nCandice Glenday
\nViolet Smith
\nLaura Smowton
\nSoma Meran
\nJulie Skinner
\nMrs Michelle Kenwright
\nMr Mark Kenwright
\nKerstin Ward
\nMr & Mrs Bell
\nMrs Natasha Court BA (Hons) QTS
\nHazel Broadie
\nMary Eley
\nDonna Malena
\nBen Kilpatrick
\nKaren McCafferty
\nOlga Kilpatrick
\nJohn McCafferty
\nT Cumming
\nRebbecca Rusling
\nPhil McGinity
\nL.Munns
\nJ Claydon
\nD Claydon
\nM Pearson
\nR Pearson
\nSarah Huntington
\nSamantha Towler
\nJoanne Richardson
\nPeter Richardson
\nJessica Bedford
\nDrew Gervais
\nCarol Bray
\nMichelle John
\nLaura Huish
\nMichelle Ritter
\nDr Samantha Coates
\nDr Richard Coates
\nMiss D Cocksedge
\nMrs B Cocksedge
\nMrs Jane Rogers
\nChris Storey, Parent, Winchester
\nMrs A Podesta
\nDarcey Podesta
\nJodie Power
\nBelinda Sullivan
\nSonia Sandhu
\nRaaj Purohit
\nSuzanne Hall
\nJoanna Trigg
\nShaun Young
\nDiana Ball
\nSarah Gibson
\nJonathan Gibson
\nL Barrett
\nLorna Hunter
\nNatalie Knightley
\nMrs Lisa Peace
\nMr Simon Peace
\nJacqui Barker
\nJ Richardson
\nPat Turnbull<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"