Prof Chris Whitty said "the chances of children dying from Covid-19 are incredibly small" - but missing lessons "damages children in the long run". Millions of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to return to school
within weeks. Prof Whitty also said Covid-19 would be a challenge for at least nine months. He said it was unlikely there would be a vaccine in 2020 but there was a "reasonable chance" of a working jab being ready for the following winter in 2021-22. Will pupils do a full school day next term? Could reopening schools spread coronavirus? Pubs 'may need to shut' to allow schools to reopen Speaking about the balance of risks for pupils, Prof Whitty, who is also England's chief medical officer, said it was "very strongly in favour of children going to school because many more were likely to be harmed by not going than harmed by going". "There's also very clear evidence from the UK and around the world that children much less commonly get a severe illness and end up having to be hospitalised if they get symptomatic Covid," he added in an interview. The government has said all pupils, in all year groups, in England will be expected to return to class full-time in September. Schools have already reopened in Scotland. It came as chief and deputy chief medical officers for all four UK nations said there were "no risk-free options" and it was important for parents and teachers to understand both the risks and benefits as schools reopen.
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