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Suspected covid-19 outbreaks in schools almost doubles

The number of suspected coronavirus outbreaks in schools almost doubled last week, new Public Health England figures show.

PHE’s weekly COVID-19 surveillance report, published today, shows the number of “acute respiratory outbreaks” in schools rose from 24 to 44 – 16 more outbreaks than were recorded at hospitals. 

Last week, secondary schools started to welcome back some pupils in year 10 and 12. It was also the third week primary schools reopened to more pupils.

While the PHE report stated the rise “coincides with wider school reopening”, they pointed out it also follows an “expansion of testing and contract tracing”.

An outbreak is defined as two or more people experiencing a similar illness, which appears to be linked to a particular setting.

The 44 cases last week mark a sharp rise since schools reopened. In the week starting June 1, there were 14 acute respiratory outbreaks, then 24 in the following week.

Barring the week before schools opened, the number of suspected outbreaks did not rise above four.

PHE guidance states, as the winter season is left behind and infections like flu become “less prevalent, we would expect most outbreaks in community settings to be related to COVID-19”.

Of the 44 outbreaks recorded last week, 23 tested positive, up from 12 confirmed cases in the previous week.

Overall, the number of new acute respiratory outbreaks rose from 199 to 223. It means schools made up nearly 20 per cent of the outbreaks last week, compared to 12 per cent in the previous week.

Dr Joshua Moon, a research fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), previously told Schools Week: “I would be fairly confident the opening of schools has increased transmission within schools, but that is also what you would expect – the question is whether or not you can jump on that and get it under control.”

The Leicester Mercury reported earlier this week that five schools in the city had to close following confirmed coronavirus cases.

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2 Comments

  1. Amanda Fizz

    If the transcript of the conversation is accurate and in context, I think this Headteacher has been fair and reasonable. My stepson attend different A level colleges and the difference between the lessons/work and tutor attention is significant, even within the same college. The level of lesson preparation and delivery ranges from self-service dry content accessed online and absolutely no interaction or feedback on work submitted, to a lone tutor who delivers video-based lessons and marks and comments on all work submitted. So, from my perspective, this person’s comments are realistic and reflect real experiences.

  2. It would be really useful to know where and amongst whom these outbreaks happened.
    Was it keyworkers, a particular area, a particular community?
    Was there transmission within the school or was it the parents who passed on the virus to their children only?
    Was the transmission contained successfully?