Senior health advisers have warned of their lack of attendance in education
Britain: Missing School Is More dangerous for Children than Coronavirus
Johnson said getting children back to school is a national priority. Archives
Senior health sector officials in the United Kingdom called for the need for children to return to school after the summer vacation, warning that their lack of attendance in education is more dangerous for them than infection with "Covid-19".
The rare joint statement issued by top health advisers to the governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a boost to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said that returning children to school is a national priority.
Confidence in the government's approach to education plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic last week, when Education Minister Gavin Williamson was forced to embarrassingly adjust test results.
"Very few, if any, children or adolescents will be exposed to long-term harm from (Covid-19) by going to school," the counselors said in the statement, which was published late on Saturday.
"This should be measured by the long-term damage that will befall many children and young people as a result of not going to school," they added.
The statement said evidence showed that a lack of education increased inequality, reduced opportunities and may exacerbate physical and mental health problems.
On the contrary, there is clear evidence that even if children contract "Covid-19", the infection is usually not serious, and it rarely leads to death.
Evidence shows that a lack of education increases inequality.