Sweden's decision to keep schools open during the pandemic resulted in no higher rate of infection among its schoolchildren than in neighbouring Finland, where schools did temporarily close, their public health agencies said in a joint report, Reuters reported.

The report, which has not been peer reviewed, found that during the period of February 24 to June 14, there were 1,124 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among children in Sweden, around 0.05 per cent of the total number of children aged 1-19.

Finland recorded 584 cases in the same period, also equivalent to around 0.05pc.