SNP urged to ‘do the right thing’ and limit virus spread in schools

AIR purifiers should be installed in every classroom in Scotland to curb the spread of Covid, ministers have been urged.

Scottish Labour education spokesman Michael Marra highlighted research by Harvard University which suggested portable air purifiers could reduce transmission rates by 50 per cent, while highefficiency filters could remove up to 80 per cent of airborne virus.

He called for two of these to be installed in every classroom. He was backed by Tory MSP Oliver Mundell, while Lib Dem education spokesman Willie Rennie said the Government had a duty to ‘make sure we are doing the right thing for schools’.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said ensuring schools are well ventilated is ‘vital’. She insisted ‘significant funding’ had been allocated, saying some of a £90million fund was used by councils to improve ventilation, as well as £10million to ensure schools and day care centres had CO2 monitors.