SCHOOLS NOT OUT
Plan for early summer holidays in Wales abandoned Just 2% of people here could have Covid-19 antibodies Death toll up by 14 as lockdown set to ease:
PLANS for pupils to return to school in August have been abandoned by the Welsh Government, according to a teaching union. However, there could yet be a change to term times, as options for emerging from the coronavirus schools shutdown are considered.
It follows the announcement of a return to schools in England from tomorrow, and in Scotland from August 11.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has said he wants Year 6 pupils and those with exams next year to go back to school before the summer holidays.
Education minister Kirsty Williams said on Friday the situation with schooling had not yet changed, and would not over the weekend.
However, the secretary of the National Education Union Cymru said following discussions with Ms Williams, as well as scientists and other educational workers, any plan to truncate the summer term and start school holidays in June, and reopen schools in August, would not be happening.
In a statement, NEUC Wales secretary David Evans said the decision to reopen schools would be dependent upon scientific and medical advice, and three options were being considered.
The first was to stick with current term times and reopen schools in September; the second to consider reopening on either June the 22 or 29, with a decision to be taken on which year groups, and the phased return of pupils.
The third option was to end summer term early around June 19, with a six-week summer break and a return to school on August 3.
The autumn term would then be stretched to last 20 weeks, with a half-term week, to allow pupils to have regular week-long breaks.
Mr Evans said education unions had issued a joint statement to the Welsh Government with concerns over the proposal.
He added: “At the start of the meeting on Friday, and as a result of our concerns, Kirsty Williams confirmed that the option for schools to open in August was being abandoned.
“She does, however, wish to explore the possibility of schools reopening before the end of term and also suggested today that the summer term may be extended for a week with autumn half term then being extended to two weeks rather than one.
“She is also considering including ‘preparation weeks’ during the autumn term which would occur every three weeks and mean that pupils would not be present in school”.
The union said it would want any return to school to be subject to a list of conditions, including the availability of PPE and evidence the virus was under control, as well as rigorous cleaning systems in schools.
They also want a proven physical distancing system in place.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As the education minister confirmed yesterday, the situation for education in Wales has not changed.
“The Welsh Government is working closely with unions, local authorities, scientists and education staff to decide on the next steps for education in Wales and the Minister intends to update further next week”.
It came as the latest figures from Public Health Wales (PHW) revealed the number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales has risen by 14.
Across the UK, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden yesterday said 38,376 people had now died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus as of 5pm on Friday, up by 215 from 38,161 the day before.
In the 24-hour period up to 9am yesterday, 127,722 tests were carried out or dispatched with 2,445 positive results. Overall, a total of 4,171,408 tests have been carried out and 272,826 cases have been confirmed positive.
PHW confirmed yesterday that the number of fatalities linked to the virus since the start of the outbreak now stands at 1,331.
It comes as a further 86 new cases of the virus were confirmed in the past 24 hours.
While testing capacity in Wales is said to be at around 9,000 per day, latest figures show that on Friday just 2,400 tests were carried out – a reduction from 2,743 tests on Thursday.
However, the Welsh Government’s “test, trace and protect” strategy is due to begin on June 1.
It is expected to see testing numbers boosted substantially among both healthcare staff and the general population.
The new figures follow a major announcement from the First Minister that will see lockdown measures eased from tomorrow.
Mr Drakeford said that from June 1 people from two different households will be able to meet up outdoors.
People must remain local while doing so and should travel, as a “general rule”, no more than five miles from their home.
The measures do not apply to the 130,000 people who have been advised to shield until June 15.
Elsewhere, the European Union has urged US president Donald Trump to rethink his decision to cut American funding for the World
Health Organisation (WHO) amid global criticism of the move.
Spiking coronavirus infection rates in India and elsewhere served as a reminder the global pandemic is far from contained, as Mr Trump charged that the WHO did not respond adequately to the pandemic.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has urged Mr Trump to reconsider, saying that “actions that weaken international results must be avoided”, and that “now is the time for enhanced cooperation and common solutions”.
She added: “The WHO needs to continue being able to lead the international response to pandemics, current and future.
“For this, the participation and support of all is required and very much needed.”