Greens: Schools must remain closed as COVID cases spiral
Scottish schools should remain closed while COVID-19 cases spiral out of control, the Scottish Greens have said.
The latest figures show 2,085 new cases of the virus since yesterday, the highest on record in Scotland.
Commenting, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “With more new cases in the last day than any other daily rise and the numbers in hospital and ICU also rising, there is a need for caution.
“We need to be honest and accept that schools cannot go back until the situation is under control and the role schools play in transmission of the new strain is understood. Teachers have already told us staff do not feel safe, it’s time to listen to them.
“And when schools are to open, clearly teachers must benefit from the new increased capacity in vaccinations.
“It’s also clear that much more needs to be done to support people to self-isolate, which is a vital part of test and protect. Adequate financial and practical support could drive up compliance and put the brakes on an infection rate which is spiralling out of control.”