News

With children across the UK returning to schools, there have been increased cases of COVID-19 schoolchildren according to data from the Office for National Statistics

The latest coronavirus infection survey from the Office for National Statistics (2021) was released on 26 March, with the next report due on 1 April. The analyses of COVID-19 cases in particular age groups are reported separately for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In light of children having returned to school, many were concerned about the effect this may have on cases of coronavirus.

In England, children returned to school from 8 March and the latest attendance data show that on 25 March, 90% of students were attending school, down from 91% the week before (Gov.uk, 2021). Estimates for the percentage of the population testing positive for coronavirus on a daily basis have begun to increase for those age 2 years old up to school year 11. Cases were decreasing across these age groups between 7 and 17 February, but the most recent data up to 20 March show that case numbers began to level off, and then increase in this later period. It should be noted that these data are based on infections reported in the community, and do not include infections reported in hospitals, or other institutional settings.