Back-to school experiments offer a coronavirus education

Back-to school experiments offer a coronavirus education

Kids across the UK and Europe have been masking up and heading back to school. For many it's been a long time coming, and sorely needed, but understandably many carers and teachers are worried.

Evidence suggests school reopenings haven't been the primary cause of flare-ups in local Covid-19 cases. The coming months will nevertheless bring some challenges.

At first glance, Norway's experience indicates a return to the classroom isn't necessarily accompanied by a significant uptick in infections. Children there returned to school at the end of April, with strict new hygiene rules and smaller classes, before breaking up for the summer holidays two months later. The Nordic country managed to tame the pandemic in that period with travel restrictions, quarantine requirements and caps on private gatherings.

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