GP urges schools to relax uniform policy in Walsall over coronavirus fears
A senior GP has urged schools to relax uniform rules as poor families in Walsall won’t be able to afford to wash them every day to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Research has shown the virus can live on clothing for up to 72 hours and therefore parents are being urged to wash clothes more frequently to stop it being passed on.
But Dr Anand Rischie, chairman of Walsall's Clinical Commissioning Group, said this is not feasible for many people living in the town who couldn’t afford to run washing machines daily.
He told a meeting of Walsall Council’s local outbreak engagement board, at a meeting on Tuesday that schools should be told to be more tolerant of children wearing non-uniform clothing.
Health bosses said they will be speaking with children’s services bosses as well as raising the issue in regular webinars and communications they have with schools.
Dr Rischie said: "I’m very much worried that if clothes need washing everyday, Walsall is a very poor borough.
"Parents will not be able to run their washing machines every day for those uniforms to be cleaned.
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"Is there something we can recommend that schools should be tolerant about kids not attending in school uniform?
"I understand that national guidance is that they should be but locally, if every parent is running a washing machine every evening to wash clothes, it is not practical.
Laundrette
"We live in a very poor borough, we have got patients who actually go to the laundrette and they will have to go there every day.
"At this moment in time we do not know how long it takes for coronavirus to degrade so washing clothes is key.
"But if they are going in their regular clothes, they can be washed on the weekend. It’s common sense and locally if we can advise that of schools, we should be recommending that."
Stephen Gunther, Walsall’s director of public health, said they are working with schools and academy trusts to provide guidance.
He said: "We are providing regular support and webinars to schools where we can raise this issue.
"Viruses do linger on different surfaces for up to 72 hours and the advice is washing and changing on a regular basis.
"It will be difficult for some parts of our community and we need to recognise that. If we are going to prevent, we might need to be flexible and tolerant around the school uniforms."
