SCOTLAND’S schools should not re-open until the Government can keep kids two metres apart, one of Nicola Sturgeon’s key Covid advisers has suggested.

Professor Stephen Reicher said copying the Danish system, where children are kept in bubbles of around 12, would be a “good target”.

He also called for universities to “move to online teaching as the default until Easter at least,” saying schools could then use empty buildings for classes.

Pupils are supposed to head back to their desks on January 18, but with a spike in cases and fears over the spread of the new coronavirus variant, the First Minister could soon be under pressure to delay that return.

Yesterday saw 1895 new cases reported – the highest number ever logged on a single day in Scotland.

Though there may have been a bit of a Christmas lag contributing to the figure, it was double the number logged 24 hours previously with test positivity rate up at 14.4%.

Writing in The Guardian on Monday, Reicher said kids should not be heading back into the classroom “until buildings are made as safe as possible for pupils and staff”.

The St Andrews University academic was writing on behalf of Independent Sage, the group of experts set up as an alternative voice to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), the official panel advising the Government.

He warned that the new coronavirus variant would likely “constitute 90% of all cases by mid-January”.

On education, Reicher says making schools safe would include “smaller class sizes (achieved through hiring extra teachers and teaching rooms), adequate ventilation and free masks for all pupils”.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon adviser calls for new 'national control measures' on schools and travel

Asked by The National what size of class would be safe, the psychologist said: “Basically the smaller the better, and the number depends upon size of rooms.

“The important thing is to retain the two-metre distancing. Denmark has bubbles of 12. That would be a good target.

“I would argue that we should reopen safe schools. So we need an all-out mobilisation to achieve that with measures such as hiring more staff and more spaces. If universities go all online, many schools in the cities could use university premises.”

He added: “The sooner we start, the sooner it will be achieved. We also need to ensure that all pupils have computers and WiFi so remote learning is possible if necessary.

“In terms of control measures, the modelling suggests that even current top-tier measures are probably not enough. Addressing schooling, making universities online only, being far more robust with travel, especially international travel, providing the support necessary to self-isolate would be good starts. We need more analysis and data to consider other measures. But above all, we need to act early.”

READ MORE: FM's honest approach is best antidote to vaccine scepticism, expert says

Meanwhile, the First Minister has urged Scots to see the bells in at home tomorrow night.

Sturgeon said it was “especially vital” people did not mix indoors with other households.

She warned the new strain of Covid-19 was “contributing to faster spread” of the virus, with a rising trend across the country and particular concerns over Shetland and Dumfries and Galloway.

She said: “The main message to people is to make sure you are not visiting other people’s houses just now. Unfortunately that includes Hogmanay and New Year.

“This is a time of year I know people enjoy getting together, but that’s not safe to do this year. As we head into the Hogmanay and New Year period, I really do appeal to people to say out of the homes of others, celebrate new year in your own home, only with your own household.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of pupils and school staff is our top priority.

“The guidance on reducing the risks of coronavirus (COVID-19) in schools includes robust measures to help protect the whole school community. Individual schools carry out risk assessments on their estate, as they know how to apply the guidance in a way that works best to ensure the safety of their setting.

“In July we announced £80 million of additional investment in education staff, sufficient for the recruitment of around 1,400 additional teachers and 200 support staff this year. These additional teachers will intensify support for individuals or groups of pupils who have significant gaps in their progress as a result of lockdown. They also provide scope to alter class sizes and to enable more physical distancing where this is challenging.

“Guidance was issued on 21 December regarding the detailed arrangements for schools after the festive break. It provides clarity for learning arrangements through to Friday 15 January. From Monday 18 January onwards, our current planning assumption is that schools will be open to all pupils for in-person teaching and learning as normal.

"However, this will be subject to an assessment of the state of the pandemic in Scotland and any further developments with regard to the new variant in the new year.”