The Government should avoid reopening schools too early as scientists do not fully understand coronavirus transmission between children, an NHS chief warned.
The science about how pupils pass Covid-19 on is "still evolving" and Downing Street needs to exercise caution about the return date, NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said.
His comments came at the daily Downing Street press conference in response to a question from a member of the public.
Asked whether parents would be fined for not sending their children to school when learning centres are reopened, Health Secretary Matt Hancock vowed the Government would only allow pupils to return when it was safe to do so.
Mr Hancock said: “We are not going to reopen schools if it isn’t safe.
“Of course, as and when we reopen schools, our goal is to get back to the norm and the position as it was before.”
He added: “It’s important to remember the reason we had to take the decision to close schools was because of the impact of schools on transmission, not on the safety of children.”
Prof Powis added: “The science is still evolving in terms of transmission between children, so we do need to be cautious as we think of reopening schools and we will need to think carefully and advise the Government with appropriate advice as to how that might happen.
“But the key thing is this is not a serious disease for the vast, vast, vast majority of children and indeed young people.
“There have been some very rare reports about complications in children, we are continuing to look for that and trying to understand if there is any link.
“But the overall message is for children this is a mild disease.”
