Schools in England are installing air purifiers and UV lights in classrooms as part of a Covid-fighting trial.
The equipment has been installed in 30 schools in Bradford to assess whether they curb the spread of the coronavirus and other respiratory diseases.
It also hopes to evaluate how feasible it is to implement the technologies in primary schools and is expected to yield its first results by the end of the year.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said whether the scheme is rolled out to other schools nationwide depends on the result of the trial.
It comes after a Government-funded study yesterday suggested schools aren’t ‘hubs for infection’.
Infection rates in classrooms were similar to levels seen in the general population in June, according to the research.
Ultraviolet light has previously been found to be efficient at destroying coronavirus, including the one which causes Covid-19, but a new study shows UV emitted by LED lights is effective (stock)
Covid rates in classrooms were three-and-a-half times higher last autumn than they were this June when the third wave began to spiral, a Government-funded study has claimed
Covid rates in classrooms were three-and-a-half times higher last autumn than they were this June when the third wave began to spiral, a Government-funded study found. Just 0.42 per cent of secondary school students tested positive for Covid in June (round six on graph) — compared to 1.48 per cent in November last year (round one)
Schools are NOT ‘hubs of infection’: Covid rates in classrooms were 3.5 TIMES higher last autumn than they were this June when third wave began to spiral, government-funded study claims
Covid rates in classrooms were three-and-a-half times higher last autumn than they were this June when the third wave began to spiral, a Government-funded study has claimed.
Just 0.42 per cent of secondary school students tested positive for Covid in June — compared to 1.48 per cent in November last year. And only 0.27 per cent of primary school children had the virus, down from 0.75 per cent last November.
Health chiefs today insisted the survey, based on swabs taken in 141 schools, proved classrooms have not become ‘hubs for infection’, like some experts and teaching unions feared.
They said data showed the number of children testing positive in classrooms during June was not higher than the rest of the population.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), one of three teams involved in the report, argued the findings support the hypothesis that ‘school gate’ measures have cut the risk of infection in school.
It also said: ‘The rapid asymptomatic testing programme may have enhanced this by keeping a higher proportion of infected pupils out of school in the summer term.’
The study, which also involved the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, also showed 92.9 per cent of staff had received at least one vaccine dose by the end of June 2021.
Some 70.5 per cent of staff had received both doses.
Despite the data suggesting schools were safe, it only applies to June — before the peak of the third wave in July.
Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, claimed there is now a ‘wealth of evidence from around the world that schools are not the main driver of Covid epidemics’.
He said the latest ONS survey ‘does not raise any immediate concerns about the re-opening of schools after the summer holidays’.
The SAGE adviser added the future inquiry into coronavirus should consider whether there was ever any need to close schools, saying he believes the evidence suggests the answer may be no.
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The i reported the study is backed with £1.8million of funding from the Department of Health and Social Care, which will consider the final results from the study once available.
It is being conducted by the Centre for Applied Education Research and could lead to the technologies being rolled out in schools from 2022, the paper said.
The randomised trial will consist of a third of schools equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, a third with UV purifiers and a third without any equipment to serve as a control group.
Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive says fog, mist, vapour and ultraviolet treatments ‘may be suitable options to help control the spread of coronavirus and disinfecting a larger space or room’.
It adds people using these types of disinfectants must be ‘competent’ and ‘properly trained’.
Some businesses already use UV light and air purifiers to help combat the spread of the virus.
Transport for London installed more than 200 UV light sanitising devices on escalator handrails across the London Underground in October after a successful six week trial.
Several clubs and gig venues also installed the devices ahead of reopening their doors on July 19.
Asked on BBC Breakfast this morning whether the scheme would be rolled-out to other schools, Mr Gibb said: ‘We’ll wait to see the results of the pilot.
‘Ventilation has been a key part of the guidance we provided to schools about how to keep schools safe and to minimise the risk of transmission, as well as hygiene and all the staggered starts and so on in schools.
‘Ventilation, right from the beginning, was an important part of that process and it remains actually part of our guidance to schools.
‘We are looking at air purifiers – that’s what the pilot in Bradford is about. We are also looking at CO2 monitors, to see whether that’s an effective way of helping schools to monitor the quality of the air.’
Covid has caused mayhem for schools, students and parents.
Last term children in England had to self-isolate for 10 days if another pupil in their bubble – which can be an entire year group – tested positive for coronavirus.
The rules led to 1.13million children being off school on a single day in July due to the virus.
Nine in 10 of these pupils were isolating due to being in contact with an Covid case, while the rest either had symptoms or tested positive.
But from August 16, children in England will only need to self-isolate if they have tested positive.
And the Department for Education said last month that it no longer advises pupils, staff and visitors to wear masks in classrooms or communal areas.
Pupils contacted by Test and Trace as a contact of a positive case will be required to take a PCR test but they will only have to isolate if they themselves test positive.
It comes as a Government-funded study published yesterday revealed that Covid rates in classrooms were three-and-a-half times higher last autumn than they were this June when the third wave began to spiral.
It found just 0.42 per cent of secondary school students tested positive for Covid in June — compared to 1.48 per cent in November last year.
And only 0.27 per cent of primary school children had the virus, down from 0.75 per cent last November.
Health chiefs today insisted the survey, based on swabs taken in 141 schools, proved classrooms have not become ‘hubs for infection’, like some experts and teaching unions feared.
They said data showed the number of children testing positive in classrooms during June was not higher than the rest of the population.
Dr Shamez Ladhani, a consultant paediatrician at Public Health England, said: ‘Latest results show that infection and antibody positivity rates of children in school did not exceed those of the community.
‘This is reassuring and confirms that schools are not hubs of infection.’
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