Coronavirus daily round-up: Thursday 28 May
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, May 28, 2020
The government is “failing to follow” advice laid out by scientific advisers by reopening schools next Monday (1 June), a new report warns.
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Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.
Government ‘failing to follow SAGE advice’ on reopening schools
The government is failing to follow the advice of its own Sage group by reopening schools next Monday, a new report by leading scientists claims.
A report by the “Independent Sage” committee, chaired by former scientific adviser Sir David King, claims the government’s modelling to reopen schools sees the R rate rising above one.
It states: “The school reopening scenario chosen by the government is not one of those modelled by Sage making the potential impact of reopening even more uncertain.
“We therefore believe that by going ahead with a general school reopening from 1 June, the government is not following the advice of its Sage group and is risking a new surge in cases of Covid-19 in some communities."
Covid-19 testing extended to under-fives
Children under five are now eligible to be tested for coronavirus, the government has announced.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the expansion of the tests at Wednesday’s daily press briefing. He said: “Every single person who has symptoms of coronavirus can get a test no matter their age.”
Children’s minister Vicky Ford added: “I hope that expanding our testing availability to the youngest children will provide additional reassurance to parents, carers and staff. It builds on the detailed guidance we have published to help settings implement protective measures to lower the risk of transmission.”
Schools granted access to £300m funding to combat localised Covid-19 outbreaks
A new £300m fund for local authorities to tackle outbreaks of coronavirus could be used to contain infections in schools, the government has said.
The announcement comes as a new “test and trace” system is launched in England and Scotland allowing a team of 25,000 tracers to contact anyone believed to have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for Covid-19.
Each local authority will be given funding to develop tailored outbreak control plans, working with local NHS and other stakeholders.
Official government guidance states: “Work on the plans will start immediately. Their plans will focus on identifying and containing potential outbreaks in places such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools.”
Boris Johnson raises questions over migrants with no recourse to public funds
The Prime Minister has vowed to look into barriers preventing some families from accessing basic benefits due to their immigration status.
Boris Johnson appeared to be unaware of the issue as he was alerted to the situation of a couple from Pakistan during a meeting of the House of Commons liaison committee of senior MPs on Wednesday.
He replied: “Why aren't they eligible for Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance?"
Labour MP for East Ham Stephen Timms explained that, for a 10-year period, they have no recourse to public funds and so "at the moment they can get no help at all".
Johnson vowed to “find out how many are in that position and we will see what we can do to help”.
The Children’s Society has welcomed this pledge, estimating that more than 100,000 children are affected.
Safety guidelines not being met as schools prepare to reopen, union warns
More than a quarter (26 per cent) of members of the National Education Union (NEU) have said pupil numbers at their schools are too large to enforce social distancing rules.
A further 22 per cent say that pupil numbers have not been kept low enough to allow social distancing while 41 per cent say schools do not have sufficient sinks to enforce regular hand washing.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “Significant numbers of teachers and school staff are confirming that basic health and safety guidelines outlined by government are not being observed.
“Hurtling towards an arbitrary wider opening date without either sufficient scientific evidence or protection in place is simply wrong. Neither Scotland, Northern Ireland nor Wales have decided the time is right. Many schools will not be abiding by the government’s preferred wider opening date and none will be penalised as a result. Schools in England need to know they are opening more widely on the basis of sound scientific evidence, not a political whim.”
