From exams to bins, how outbreak could affect Britain

SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES

ExAM boards are drawing up plans to delay GCSEs and A-levels amid fears the epidemic will be at its height as exam season starts.

The boards are planning for a ‘range of scenarios’, working with regulator Ofqual to prepare for rule changes in case pupils are forced to miss lessons or assessments.

Any who underperform due to fallout from the virus will be awarded ‘special consideration’ grades, while those unable to make an exam will be graded based on previous performance.

Ofqual said: ‘We recognise that students, parents, schools and colleges will be concerned about the possible impact of coronavirus on the 2020 summer exam series. Our advice at this time is to continue to prepare for exams and other assessments as normal.’ Universities are also drawing up coronavirus plans, including lowering grade requirements for affected A-level pupils.

Admissions body UCAS is considering pushing back deadlines for university applications if exams have to be delayed.

PRISONS

THE coronavirus outbreak could see thousands of ‘low risk’ prisoners released due staff shortages in jails.

A Ministry of Justice blueprint reveals proposals to relieve pressure on the system if significant members of staff become ill or are placed in isolation, according to the Sunday Times. A senior source said: ‘You can shut a school down but you can’t just shut down a prison. Prisoners need to be looked after. They require basic food and provisions. Running the present system would become impossible if 50 per cent of the staff have fallen ill.’

CARE HOMES

CARE homes have been advised to go into lockdown in the event of a major coronavirus outbreak, with visitors banned and sick patients confined to their bedrooms.

Guidance has been issued to prevent the virus from spreading among the vulnerable and elderly. Health chiefs have urged relatives not to visit care homes if they are suffering from cold or flu-like symptoms.

Care Provider Alliance, the industry body representing adults social care providers in England, says patients should be kept in their bedrooms if a resident is diagnosed.

Their guidance also advises care providers to consider restricting visits from all relatives until the outbreak is over and refuse to admit any more clients.

BIN COLLECTIONS

COUNCILS are said to be preparing to stop weekly bin collections if they are forced to prioritise services. A senior Whitehall source said local authorities may have to ‘prioritise certain routes or areas’ such as main roads of the high street. Ian Hudspeth, of the Local Government Association, said: ‘A widespread epidemic across the country would inevitably have an impact on the wide range of services councils provide and communities rely on.’

SMALL BUSINESSES

THOSE most worried about the outbreak’s impact are sole traders and hospitality and leisure firms such as restaurants, cafes and hotels, according to a survey.

They fearthe crisis will cause a drop in tourist visitors and make Britons more reluctant to venture out to public spaces.

About 52 per cent of businesses think their incomes will fall over the next quarter, the survey by digital lender Tide Tide said. Among sole traders, the number was 59 per cent. The figure jumped to 69 per among hospitality firms.

It has prompted calls for the Government to provide financial relief to the worst-hit, including shops and restaurants.

Oliver Prill, of Tide, said: ‘Confidence is currently very low. The impact of Brexit is a concern for many SMEs (small and mediumsized enterprises), and the coronavirus crisis is yet another issue.

‘Tide sees that there is a real need for the Government to invest in our entrepreneurs and SMEs, and hopes to see this reflected in the Budget.’