Nursery World - Give us coronavirus data

What are the transmission rates of Covid-19 in the early years? We need to know, says Maccs Pescatore

Maccs Pescatore: 'The Government has set out lockdown rules that prohibit children from interacting with people outside their household, but asked early years settings to remain open'

Over the past few months, parents across the country have shared upsetting stories of young children being shouted at and verbally abused by the general public for things like accompanying their parents to the shops. Children have been pulled away from other children in the park, denied entrance to supermarkets and libraries, and parents have been called ‘immoral’ for wanting local playgroups to open when restrictions have eased.

These harrowing encounters are a serious side effect of unclear guidance throughout the pandemic – and could have been avoided. People are understandably confused and anxious about the rules and the risks posed by young children. In one breath, the Government has set out lockdown rules that prohibit children from interacting with people outside their household, and in another, they have asked many early years settings to remain open, where it is almost impossible to practise social distancing with such young children.

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