Opening all schools would lead to risk of coronavirus spike

That's according to the Government

Reopening all schools in England would risk a second spike in coronavirus cases, scientists have warned ministers.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said there would be a "phased approach" to reopening schools.

His Cabinet colleague Dominic Raab said the evidence from scientists indicated that opening all schools would lead to a "very real risk" of a dramatic rise in the rate of transmission of coronavirus.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has been asked to draw up options for schools, with Mr Raab saying it was not a "binary" situation of them either being open or shut.

At the daily Downing Street briefing, he said: "At least to date the evidence has been that we wouldn't be able to open up all schools without a very real risk that the R rate - the transmission rate - would rise at such a level that we would risk a second spike."

Published: by Radio NewsHub
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