Covid cases skyrocket in nurseries to highest ever with 2,707 infections

The number of Covid-19 infections in England’s nurseries has leapt to 2,707 infections - the highest ever since records began in June 2020.

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There may have been zero cases of Covid-19 in nurseries in the week commencing 1 June 2020, when early years providers first began reporting on coronavirus figures, but this has since rarely deviated from an upwards trajectory.

The government's latest data 'Reported COVID-19 notifications by registered early years and childcare settings' (published 13 December) reveals the number of infections has now risen to 2,707 for the week commencing 22 November 2021.

This is a dramatic increase when compared to the week before (week commencing 15 November) when 1,960 cases were reported by early years providers.

Nurseries up and down the country have seen an increase in Covid-19 infections, prompting the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) to highlight the “massively disruptive” influence of Covid infections on children as they and staff members are forced to stay away from nurseries.

‘More cases with staff becoming ill’ and ‘lost learning’

Jonathan Broadbery, the NDNA's director of policy and communication, said: “The numbers of Covid-19 notifications in early years settings have increased dramatically in recent weeks, reflecting the community transmission that is being reported.

“Nurseries are doing all they can to keep children and staff safe but these are now the highest rates we have seen since reporting began in September 2020.

“These cases have a massively disruptive influence on children’s experiences in early education settings when they have already missed out on so many experiences.

"We are hearing about many more cases with staff becoming ill and children having to stay away, resulting in more lost learning."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on 13 December that the UK has 4,713 confirmed cases of Omicron but also said the UK Health Security Agency estimates the current number of daily infections total 200,000.

The NDNA is now urging the government to help the early years sector support children.

Mr Broadbery added: “It is clear that the early years sector is still being badly affected by the pandemic. Closures and absences don’t just mean disruption for children and families but also lost income for providers.”