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Children and young people could be half as likely to catch coronavirus as adults, a scientific review of studies worldwide has found.

Those aged under 20 were 56% less likely to contract SARS-CoV-2, the official name of the new coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19, from an infected person, the researchers said.

And the analysis of global test and tracing and population screening studies led by University College London (UCL) found the evidence “remains weak” on the likelihood that children transmit the virus.

It will come as a boost for prime minister Boris Johnson’s plans to allow more children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to return to school in England as early as June 1 as part of his strategy for easing lockdown restrictions.

The government is engaged in a row with unions and some local authorities over the plans, and teachers have privately expressed horror at the chaos that has been caused. The scientific and medical modelling used to justify the move is set to be published on Friday at midday.

Lead author Professor Russell Viner, of the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said: “There is an increasing amount of data now available on children and Covid-19, and this is the first comprehensive study to carefully review and summarise what we do and do not know about susceptibility and transmission.

“Our findings show children and young people appear 56% less likely to contract Covid-19 from infected others. Susceptibility is a key part of the chain of infection, and this supports the view that children are likely to play a smaller role in transmitting the virus and proliferating the pandemic, although considerable uncertainty remains.

“This new data provides essential evidence to governments around the world to inform their decision-making on whether to reopen schools and reduce or end lockdown measures.”