English schools opening now may increase coronavirus 'R' rate by 0.3, scientists warn

English schools reopening on June 1 could increase the coronavirus 'R' rate by 0.3, scientists have warned.

Schools, colleges and nurseries closed more than nine weeks ago due to the Covid-19 outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.

But Boris Johnson's latest announcement said that from Monday schools in England will begin resuming with Reception and Years 1 and 6, despite safety concerns from teaching unions.

The so-called R value, or reproduction rate, is currently between 0.7 and 0.9, and must remain under one to avoid a rise in infections - a key test on whether lockdown measures should be eased, with the Government stressing the need to avoid a second wave of cases which would threaten to overwhelm the NHS.

But a group of experts calling themselves the Independent Sage Group warned reopening schools 'too soon' risks pushing the 'R' rate above one.

They said opening schools from Monday could lead to a new surge of infections in the community.

Sir David King, a former government chief scientific adviser and the chairman of Independent Sage told the Guardian : "This is just too early. We know that…opening up schools has the potential to raise R by up to 0.3.

"So we are really concerned that the level of infectivity across the country as a whole is too high to open schools."

Independent Sage is separate to the government's official advisors, SAGE.

They have accused the government of not listening to its own scientific advice.

Professor Karl Friston, a member of the Independent Sage committee said that opening schools without more robust surveillance could mean new outbreaks would initially go unnoticed.

He said: "You will only know in your region several weeks or months after you have made a mistake, hence the importance of real-time data."

Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said yesterday: “Government should be bound to protect all of us during this frightening and difficult time.

"Yet the announcement today about England pressing ahead with wider school opening flies in the face of this duty.

"We are not saying only go back when it is 100% safe. Nothing ever is.

"But we are saying meet your own tests, produce sound scientific evidence, and return when the time is right to ensure the virus can be contained as much as possible."