PRIMARY schools in Wales will begin a “phased return” from February 22, starting with the youngest pupils, Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirmed today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to support the reopening an extra \u00a35m in funding has also been allocated for schools to purchase “high-quality face coverings”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’re clear that the ability to relax the current restrictions remains limited by the presence of a new variant, which is more transmissible than before,” said Dr Chris Jones, deputy chief medical officer for Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“However with the R value currently below one, there is some headroom for a phased return of primary school children, who have a lower risk of infection, but who are at risk of harm while not in school.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should be noted that the issue of coronavirus transmissibility in children is still hotly debated within the scientific community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some studies<\/a> have found evidence that children are indeed less likely to transmit the virus, and the European Centre for Disease Control endorses this view<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n