Boris Johnson claims coronavirus isn't school children's biggest threat as they prepare to head back to the classroom.
The Prime Minister was speaking on Wednesday afternoon at Castle Rock school in Coalville, addressing students.
He started by thanking children for their 'huge sacrifice' in spending their summer sticking to Covid restrictions.
The Prime Minister said: "It's thanks to you we have the disease under control.
"We have the number of deaths way down, we have the number of hospital admissions way down and it's thanks to you and your sacrifice that we protected the NHS and saved tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of lives."
Mr Johnson went on to speak about the start of the academic year, which comes next week for most pupils in England and Wales.
He said Covid is not the biggest risk children face. Spending more time out of school is, the PM said.
"Quite frankly, after all that time - 159 days - the risk to your health is not from Covid," Mr Johnson added.
"Because after all, statistically speaking, your chances of suffering from that disease are very, very low.
"The greatest risk you face right now is continuing to be out of school."
His appearance at the Midlands schools came the government performed another U-turn - this time on face coverings being worn in schools.
Initially, pupils and staff were not required to wear a face mask or covering at all.
But in a change to the guidance late on Tuesday evening, secondary school pupils in Greater Manchester, and other areas subject to local lockdown restrictions, will have to wear face masks in corridors when they return next week.
For children in Year 7 and above, schools in England will now have the discretion to require pupils to wear face coverings in communal areas and on schools transport.
