Omicron spreading among over 50s, says UK minister, but no need for more restrictions
- Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi says high uptake of booster jabs by older people means ‘nothing in data to make me believe we need go further’
- He also says ‘priority’ to keep schools open, although major staff shortages are feared across sector and already seen in health service
“We’re seeing leakage into the over-50s in terms of infection,” he told the BBC. “They are boosted – 90 per cent of the over 50s are boosted.”
He said the government would assess the situation in England on Wednesday. “There’s nothing in the data at the moment that would make me believe we need to go further.”
He also said toughened coronavirus measures in schools will not be in place “for a day longer than we need it” as staff shortages were feared across the sector.
Nadhim Zahawi has told head teachers to consider merging classes or sending groups of children home if the number of staff off work due to Covid-19 reaches critical levels.
But he said it was key to keep children in the classroom as much as possible and to keep schools open due to the impact on mental health.
“The priority is to keep schools open,” he told Sky News, following the announcement that masks would be recommended in the classroom for secondary school pupils, as well as twice-weekly testing.
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