Jess Casey: Stop saying ‘schools are safe’ if you want them to ever reopen again

Confused public health messaging has upturned the reopening of special schools

If there hadn't been such a rush to pin reopening to a particular date, we would be in a better position than we are now: a mess of division, frustration, and anger.

If the Department of Education wants to see schools reopened anytime soon, it has to stop saying "schools are safe". The phrase is driving teachers and principals cracked.

Because they know it is not as simple as saying "schools are safe". It’s more accurate to say "schools appear to be safer than most other places if infection prevention measures are in place and the benefits of children attending generally outweigh the risks of the virus to them".