Reopening of schools ‘risky’ says NI’s chief scientific adviser - ‘not a mission of schools reopening in June’ adds NI Commissioner for Children and Young people

He said when it does happen, it should be done “on a very graduated basis”.

Earlier Education Minister Peter Weir said it was “extremely likely” there could be a phased return of schools in Northern Ireland in September, at the start of a new educational year.

However, Peter Weir said he would be criteria led, not date led.

And Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma also told the BBC that there is “not a mission” that Northern Ireland schools will be open in June.

“This week, we’ve only started a slight easing of lockdown and we will need up to a month to see what impact that has on the infection rate.”

She said that teachers need to be ready to be teaching children partly in the classroom and partly online and that it was “distressing” that teachers, children and families are not being given more support and advice around technology.

“No one could have predicted this, we weren’t ready and we’re playing catch up. It’s not good enough.

“Too many children are still not getting the education they need and we do not know the quality they’re getting, but we cannot blame individual schools and teachers. We need to take a systemic approach.”

Education Minister Peter Weir, in recent weeks, said the decision to reopen schools would need to reflect the executive’s wider plans for recovery from the virus.

He said there were a number of “practical measures” that need to be addressed.

He cited securing PPE for staff, putting social distancing in place to allow school meals and ensuring measures are adhered to on school transport.

Speaking this morning on BBC, Prof Young that if tests were “infinite”, he would like to test “everybody every day”.

But although this would give scientists “the best handle in terms of the stage of the epidemic”, he added that it was simply not possible.

“This is a new disease, there were no tests whatsoever for it six months ago. But on a global level, the number of tests available is far below the requirements and every country is struggling to get tests.

“We have done our very best to get more and more testing capacity and continue to do so in order to move forward and support our test, trace and isolate strategy which is going to be critical for us moving forward.”

He also stressed that the over 70s who are not shielding can meet four to six people outdoors while maintaining social distancing.

“Not everybody over 70 is in the shielding group,” he said.

And asked about the efficacy of the public using face masks to curtail the spread of the disease, Prof Young said the evidence was weak.

However, he said face covering in indoor spaces “where it can be hard to maintain social distancing” was still recommended.

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