A MEMBER of the Harlow Youth Council has expressed concern over a lack of social distancing at schools.

Bethany Tasker asked the following question at a Harlow Council meeting on Thursday night.

As young people can be spreaders of the Covid-19 virus Youth Councillors are concerned about the lack of social distancing in school and when school finishes for the day and young people travel home. Are there any plans for the Council to use its social media platforms to engage better with younger people to get the message across about the importance of everyone following the rules?

Reply from Councillor Chris Vince (Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing):

Harlow council recognises that during the pandemic communication with residents of all ages is key. We recognise that for young people this is a very scary and difficult time and that it is difficult to do what is best when balancing the need to keep safe with the desire to be successful at school and socialise with friends.

Harlow council will continue to provide hopefully useful information on social media advising all residents of our town, about the importance of following the government guidelines and what everyone can do to reduce the spread of this virus.

However, in response to your specific point our comms team are working with the youth and citizenship team to look at how we can best communicate the importance of young people social distancing, of wearing face masks and to continue to ensure that we sanitise both ourselves and our work spaces, until we have seen an end to this terrible pandemic.

As part of Essex County Council’s let’s stop the spread campaign the council is also working with the County Council to identify key influencers and personalities who can help engage with and communicate messages to families and young people through different social media channels.