I think much of the risk in opening schools is that if one child is infected, they can spread it to other pupils in the same class, who can then spread it to pupils from other classes.
So there needs to be COVID secure guidelines for schools, such as
- The smallest class size possible, given resource constraints
- Pupils from one class not allowed to mix with other pupils
- Staggered start, meal and break times.
- Advice on social distancing and hygiene
- A rolling programme of mass testing for schools, whereby a mobile testing unit visits the school and everyone gets tested.
Closing pubs again is unlikely to be the answer to an increase in infection rates after schools re-open, given that schoolchildren don't generally go to pubs, unless it is with their parents for a meal.
As with pubs, if someone at a particular school tests positive, the school may have to close for a few days for cleaning, and everyone at the school should be contact traced.
To get back more on topic, a "major incident" has been declared in Greater Manchester over rising coronavirus infection rates.
They are often declared after a terror attack or major flood and mean a region can get extra national resources if necessary.
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