School-age children are among the groups for which Covid-19 test positivity rates are “not going up” despite the return to school, the government’s chief medical officer has said.

Speaking at this afternoon’s Downing Street press briefing, Chris Whitty said the fact that infection rates were lower among pupils aged 5-16 was “important to remember when people worry about schooling”.

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He added: “It’s important to differentiate between different age bands, between younger people - children - and young adults.”

Referring to the children in the age groups 5-10, 11-14 and 15-16, Professor Whitty said: “In these groups, currently, the rates are actually really not changing very much. These are school-age children in the main.

“Whereas in older children and young adults - in those 17 up to 21, and the same is true for other young adults - the rates are now going quite rapidly [up].

“So, this is important to remember when people worry about schooling. School-age children is one of the areas where the rates are not going up and this is true across the country.”