Long Covid rates increased fastest among teachers and education staff in England towards the end of last term, compared with all other professions, and the sector has the second-highest rate of the condition overall, according to Office of National Statistics data published today.
The number of teachers and other education staff self-reporting long Covid symptoms increased by 4 per cent compared with the previous month - to a proportion of 3.1 per cent. It was the largest increase among professional groups, the latest ONS data covering the month to 6 December 2021 reveals.
Teachers and education staff had the second-highest rate at 3.1 per cent - higher than healthcare workers at 3 per cent and just behind the 3.4 per cent of social care sector staff reporting symptoms.
The number of people working in the teaching and education sector who have had self-reported long Covid symptoms for over one year has also increased from the last data set published on 6 December, from 0.97 per cent to 1.24 per cent.
Long Covid symptoms include (but are not limited to) brain fog, chronic fatigue, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and joint pain.
Self-reported long Covid is defined as symptoms persisting for more than four weeks after the first suspected coronavirus infection that could not be explained by something else.
The rates reflect pre-Omicron levels and it is as yet unclear what the high rates of Covid infection in schools this term will mean for the number of school staff suffering from long Covid.
ONS data published early last month revealed that educators were 37 per cent more likely to catch coronavirus than other workers.
Today’s data revealed that 1.3 million people in the UK overall were suffering from long Covid, over one in 60.
Long Covid is a ‘ticking time-bomb’ for teachers
Last year, the NASUWT teaching union warned that long Covid was a “ticking time-bomb” for teachers and demanded financial compensation.
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “Teachers have stepped up to the front line of this pandemic and have put their health at risk to educate our children and young people.
“With the serious risk of emerging variants, more teachers could still be vulnerable to developing this condition and find themselves unable to work, at threat of financial hardship and without sufficient legal protections.”
Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi told MPs yesterday admitted that despite efforts, “schools will be suffering some degree of staff absence” and that is likely to rise further.
