New figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that those working in the education sector are 37 per cent more likely to test positive for Covid-19 than other workers.
The data published today was taken over a two week period, from 15 November 15 to 28 November.
The figures have prompted warnings from a teaching union that there might not be enough staff to keep schools open in the new year if the virus continues to spread.
The National Education Union (NEU) warned that the ONS Covid figure for educators was “yo-yoing up and down but remaining consistently high”.
On 1 December, ONS figures showed that people working in the education sector were 51 per cent more likely to test positive for Covid than other workers.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said: “The latest ONS figures show that in the last two weeks of November education staff were 37 per cent more likely than other workers to have Covid.”
‘Figures could be worse in January’
“The worry is these figures could be worse in January - and that, as Robert Halfon, chair of the Commons Education Select Committee, said in the House of Commons yesterday, could lead to serious consequences for schools and colleges simply because there aren’t enough staff to maintain education. This is something no one wants to see.”
Mr Courtney added: “The ONS figures for educators is yo-yoing up and down but remains consistently high. With the government’s predicted exponential rise in Omicron cases, this will only get worse.”
“These figures explain why so many staff are having to miss school due to a positive test and having to isolate. Some may have to be off longer with more serious symptoms.”
Mr Courtney added that the government needs to stand behind and help teachers, support staff and school leaders.
He said the figures show the necessity for mitigations such as ventilation and air filtration, mask-wearing and isolation for siblings of positive cases, to keep Covid cases as low as possible in schools.
“Governments should also direct Ofsted to stop routine inspections and to direct its staff to act as replacement teachers in schools that need them.”
Yesterday, Robert Halfon MP warned of “de facto school closures” in the face of rising infections.
Pupil absence rises by 30,000 in a fortnight
On 14 December, data released by the Department for Education revealed that pupil absence due to Covid-related reasons had risen by nearly 30,000 in a fortnight, with teacher and leader absence rising by 20 per cent.
In January of this year, then health secretary Matt Hancock said there was “no evidence” teachers were at a higher risk from Covid.
