A survey has revealed that 46 per cent of people asked are concerned about children catching coronavirus in school and spreading it to families and throughout the community.

According to the survey by Public Health Wales, nearly half (46 per cent) of people are very or extremely concerned.

Views on the risks vary between communities.

Those living in poorer areas are more worried about children becoming ill from catching coronavirus (53 per cent) and spreading it to others (52 per cent) than those in the most affluent areas (30 per cent and 38 per cent).

Over four in 10 respondents are also very or extremely concerned that children’s education (41 per cent) or social and emotional development (44 per cent) may be damaged by schools returning to normal too slowly.

The latest Covid-19 public engagement survey report from Public Health Wales covers the period of 22 to 28 June, when 605 people were surveyed.

The survey also showed nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of the public in Wales have found their financial situation to have worsened as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

Young adults between 18 and 29 years of age were the most likely (38 per cent) to report this compared with only 12 per cent of those aged 70 or older.

The proportion of people worrying about their own mental health and wellbeing continues to reduce, with those often or always feeling isolated down from last week (22 per cent) to 12 per cent.

Prof Mark Bellis, director of policy and international health at Public Health Wales, said: “As we continue our careful journey out of coronavirus restrictions, it is not surprising that different individuals favour different paces of change.

"People living in more deprived communities are more likely to have existing health conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the virus as well as friends and relatives with similar health problems.

"Naturally, such individuals can favour a slower relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.

"Our results show how differences in vulnerability to coronavirus may result in some communities having greater concerns about children returning to school and other services reopening.

“Across the whole population however, we are seeing increases in the number of people prepared for lockdown measures to be eased, even while some risks of infection remain.

"Sadly, we are also seeing some of the broader consequences of coronavirus measures emerging, with 38 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds already reporting that they are financially worse off as a result of the restrictions put in place.”