Background Information
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread to about 220 countries and territories with more than 71.5million cases; and claimed over 1.6million lives globally. In Africa, over 2.4million cases have been reported in all countries, with nearly 57,000 deaths.
Africa CDC continue to work with Member States to ensure an effective response to the outbreak by Member States, including maintaining key public health measures which have helped to slow down the pandemic on the continent and to be prepared as some countries are already experiencing a second wave of infections.
Dr Nkengasong will be joined by Professor Heidi Larson, Director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine at this week’s briefing which will cover regular updates on the COVID-19 situation and Africa CDC response activities across the continent.
Schools closed for some pupils across England at start of January
It is hoped the staggered return to secondary schools in England will allow headteachers to rollout mass testing
Updated
SIGN UP
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice
Secondary school pupils’ returning to class in England will be staggered in the first week of January.
PHE), the Office for National Statistics and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (
LSHTM) – tested nearly 10,000 students and staff across England in November.
Testing occurred at schools, and was not determined by participants having any symptoms.
The study found 1.24% of pupils (95% confidence interval: 0.96% to 1.58%) and 1.29% of staff (95% confidence interval: 0.96% to 1.68%) tested positive for current infection overall.
The percentage of staff testing positive for current infection was higher in secondary schools (1.47%: 95% confidence interval: 1.08% to 1.97%) than in primary schools (0.75%: 95% confidence interval: 0.32% to 1.47%).
For pupils, the percentage testing positive for current infection was also higher in secondary schools (1.48%: 95% confidence interval: 1.10% to 1.98%) than in primary schools (0.89%: 95% confidence interval: 0.54% to 1.39%).
Coronavirus in schools - new study looks at whether schoolchildren are spreading Covid into community
A Public Health England expert is spearheading the research
The issue of Covid outbreaks at school has been investigated (Image: Andrew James)
Never miss a thing from Belfast and beyond - sign up for FREE newsletter direct to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Subscribe
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
School outbreaks of Covid-19 may be due to the virus being taken into each school several times rather than transmission between pupils, a leading Public Health England (PHE) expert has said.
Dr Shamez Ladhani, a PHE consultant epidemiologist and chief investigator on a new study looking at coronavirus in schools, said experts are building a picture of how transmission happens, and whether schools introduce infection into the community or vice versa.
Early findings from a small study he oversees suggest that the proportion of schoolchildren and teachers with coronavirus mirrors the proportion in the local community.
Our Schools Infection Survey found that #COVID19 infection rates among students and staff were linked to those found in the wider community at the peak of the second wave.