CORONAVIRUS

Secondary school pupils spread coronavirus like adults

Blow for ministers weeks before schools reopen
The findings increase the chances that more freedoms will have to be sacrificed to ensure that all pupils return to class
The findings increase the chances that more freedoms will have to be sacrificed to ensure that all pupils return to class
KEITH J SMITH/ALAMY

A health minister has sought to downplay an official study after its preliminary findings contradicted blanket assurances from the government that it was safe for all children to return to school next month.

Edward Argar suggested the Public Health England (PHE) research would not be published until long after pupils go back to class, after initial results suggested that secondary school pupils transmit the virus like adults.

Scientists at PHE believe that tougher rules will probably be needed for older children, despite finding that primary pupils do not appear to pass the virus to each other.

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said yesterday that a study being conducted by PHE of thousands of pupils who returned to schools in June showed that there was little