UK health advisors say missing school is greater risk than COVID-19

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The UK's chief medical officers have urged schools to reopen after the summer holidays, warning that the risks of not going is more likely to damage pupils than the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools across England are readying themselves to reopen their doors to students next month, some of whom have been closed for months.

Many parents, teachers and unions are unsure whether the decision by prime minister Boris Johnson to get children back into classrooms is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic – but Whitty is adamant.

"The chances of many children being damaged by not going to schoolare incredibly clear," said England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty. "And therefore, the balance of risk is very strongly in favor of children actually going to schoolbecause many more are likely to be harmed by not going than harmed by going, even during this pandemic."

Children in England are expected to return to schools after the summer holidays next month. /Reuters

Although England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been making their own health decisions during the pandemic, all of the UK's Chief Medical Officers released a joint statement advising children on their imminent return to schools. The statement provided evidence showing with no schooling, there could be a lack of opportunities and a rise in inequalities, which may lead to an increase in physical and mental health issues.

"The first thing to say really clearly is that there is overwhelmingly clear evidence that the chances of children dying from COVID-19 are incredibly small," said Whitty. "And while every single death of a child is an absolute tragedy, the great majority of those very small numbers, both in the UK and internationally, have been in people who've got significant pre-existing health conditions.

"There's also very clear evidence from the UK and around the world that children much less commonly get severe illness and they end up having to be hospitalized if they get symptomatic COVID at probably a rate of less than a tenth of that of the general population."

However, infection spreading between school staff members is a concern, and the government wants social distancing to be maintained at all times – not only in the classroom but also in all other environments where people can meet.

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