COVID spike in schools: Government missing in action

Commenting on a COVID-19 update at a meeting of Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Chair of the committee Councillor Hilde Hendrickx said "Whilst we expected figures to rise as students returned to school, these figures are very high and they are worrying. At the start of the school year the Department of Education told schools not to continue with COVID safety measures such as wearing facemasks and operating in bubbles. In spite of the surge in cases, the government still just seems to be standing by and our schools have received very little guidance. In addition, only a small percentage of the 300,000 carbon dioxide monitors the government promised to schools as part of the drive to improve ventilation, has been delivered."

The Council is taking a more proactive approach to help reduce the impact of coronavirus on pupils in our Borough. At the initiative of Mayor Dave Hodgson, the council already provided CO2 monitors to all schools at the start of the new school year. The monitors allow schools to assess where ventilation needs improving and to take steps to increase air flow by opening a window or door. In view of the surge in cases, last week Vicky Head, Director of Public Health at the council, also sent out guidance to Bedford Borough schools on mask wearing in communal areas and other COVID precautions such as limiting large indoor gatherings.

Councillor Hendrickx said "We need the Department of Education to provide appropriate guidance on mask wearing in crowded spaces and not have to rely on the decisions of individual councils to take action for them. Our children have missed out on so much learning in the past 18-months and it is so disappointing that yet again the government seem to be behind the curve. Last week's budget announcement of £1.8bn also fell way short of the £15bn their own expert said is needed to allow school students to catch up on missed education. This is simply not good enough."

For more information on the latest COVID-19 advice, visit https://www.bedford.gov.uk/social-care-health-and-community/public-health/coronavirus/