THE region could see thousands of further Covid infections each week if the Government does not monitor the situation closely as schools return following the summer holiday, it was last night warned.

Covid cases in the North East and North Yorkshire could rise "exponentially" as the new school term begins and thousands of pupils return between now and next week.

Read more: All the new Covid measures in schools as children return this month

It comes as latest figures from Public Health England showed thousands of new cases were reported in the last week, with ten out of 14 council areas across the region continuing to see the number of new cases climb.

Last night, trade union bosses slammed the Government after updated guidance from the Department of Education revealed almost all restrictions – including use of face coverings, social distance and bubbles – in schools had been stripped ahead of the return of schools in England.

The Northern Echo:

'The Government have had 18 months'

Meanwhile the Labour MP for Durham, Mary Foy urged the Government to retain some safety measures, including the introduction of extra ventilation systems to help facilitate official guidance stating schools should be well-ventilated.

She told The Northern Echo: “Parents are contacting me with understandable concerns about their children's return to school that the Government have had 18 months to address.

"We have known for some time now that improving ventilation is key to reducing the spread of viral infections."

As a result, Ms Foy said she had called on the Government to further extend a requirement for schools to install air purifiers and CO2 monitors to identify areas where extra ventilation is required.

She added: "We have already seen cases rising in Scotland after children have returned to school, and with very limited restrictions in place in England, this is an incredibly uncertain and worrying time for families.

The Northern Echo:

"The Government must now act swiftly and decisively on schools so that our children aren't let down again. 

"There can be no more delay in rolling out of ventilation systems in schools for the safety of our children. We need to know the Government's plan.”

'Bizarre'

Describing the move as "bizarre," Geoff Barton, general secretary of the  Association of School and College Leaders, said the easing of restrictions in schools had been done despite warnings that cases would likely rise. 

He said: "There was a raft of mitigations in place at the end of the summer term and it does seem bizarre that we have gone from that too far less stringent measures this term, with little notion of how effective this will be and with scientists warning about the likelihood of an exponential increase in infections among school-age children.

“As the majority of students prepare to return to the classroom this week there is a critical need for stability and for the Government to keep the situation under review and be ready to respond with more support for schools and colleges if it is needed."

Thousands of cases reported in past week

In the North East, Covid cases in the week leading to August 27, showed infections in County Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle were at the region's highest with 1,612, 898 and 866 cases reported in that week alone respectively. 

The Northern Echo: Amanda Healy, Durham County Council’s director of public health receiving her first vaccine

However, Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health for Durham has offered assurances that measures are in place to help minimise risk of transmission.

She said: "We can reassure parents that measures are in place to assist with the safe return of pupils.  "This includes all secondary school pupils being offered two lateral flow tests in school at the start of term.  “We would encourage parents to take up this offer for their children and for them to continue to test twice weekly at home."

Urging anyone over the age of 16 – who are now eligible – to have their first Covid vaccine, Ms Healy said this remained vital to preventing people from becoming seriously ill with Covid.

Cases rise across Scotland 

Earlier this week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government was closely monitoring rises in serious illness after latest figures showed case rates had risen "sharply" in the weeks following the reopening of schools.

According to Public Health Scotland, case rates among 16 and 17-year-olds had risen more than threefold in the past three weeks, with some of the rise attributed to the return of schools a fortnight ago.

What the Government has said

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “Education remains a national priority, and the success of the vaccine programme means schools and colleges will deliver high-quality, face-to-face education to their pupils, with minimal disruption.

“The measures in place strike the right balance between making schools safe – with enhanced ventilation, Covid testing and vaccinations of older students and staff – and reducing disruption by removing bubbles and face coverings.”

These are the Covid case rates in the North East and North Yorkshire

These are the figures for the region in the week leading to August 27 - in order of infection rate

MIDDLESBROUGH

​Number cases this week: 544 (up by 75)

Covid infection rate: 385.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 16.0 per cent

DARLINGTON

​Number cases this week: 399 (up by 50)

Covid infection rate: 371.5 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 14.3 per cent

SOUTH TYNESIDE

​Number cases this week: 551 (up 82)

Covid infection rate: 364.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 17.5 per cent

REDCAR AND CLEVELAND

​Number cases this week: 488 (up by 73)

Covid infection rate: 355.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 17.6 per cent

STOCKTON

​Number cases this week: 677 (up by 157)

Covid infection rate: 342.9 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 30.2 per cent

NORTH TYNESIDE

​Number cases this week: 701 (up 57 )

Covid infection rate: 335.6 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 8.9 per cent

GATESHEAD

​Number cases this week: 685 (up 50)

Covid infection rate: 339.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 7.9 per cent

SUNDERLAND

​Number cases this week: 898 (up 173)

Covid infection rate: 323.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 23.9 per cent

COUNTY DURHAM

​Number cases this week: 1,612 (up by 97 )

Covid infection rate: 302.4 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 6.4 per cent

NEWCASTLE

​Number cases this week: 866 (up 4)

Covid infection rate: 282.2 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are UP by 0.5 per cent

Where cases are down 

These are the figures for the region in the week leading to August 27 - in order of infection rate

HAMBLETON

​Number cases this week: 229 (down by 2)

Covid infection rate: 249.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 0.9 per cent

RICHMONDSHIRE

​Number cases this week: 136 (down by 30)

Covid infection rate: 253.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 18.1 per cent

NORTHUMBERLAND

​Number cases this week: 994 (down by 5)

Covid infection rate: 307.0 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 0.5 per cent

HARTLEPOOL

​Number cases this week: 306 (down by 26)

Covid infection rate: 326.1 cases per 100,000 people

Cases are DOWN by 7.8 per cent

--

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054