Government says schools must be shut
Covid-19 spreads more quickly than predicted as death toll climbs over 100
SCHOOLS ACROSS the UK will shut their doors tomorrow as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson admitted that the coronavirus outbreak has spread far more rapidly than officials had predicted, with the death toll reaching more than 100.
Students will miss out on taking their exams, while those usually entitled to free schools meals will be provided with vouchers to help support struggling families, it was confirmed yesterday.
The extreme measures come as Mr Williamson told MPs the situation with coronavirus had become “increasingly challenging” in schools due to staff and pupil absences, but also that the pressures had reached a peak much sooner than expected.
To date, 104 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK.
Mr Williamson told the House of Commons: “The spike of the virus is increasing at a faster pace than anticipated and it is crucial that we continue to consider the right measures to arrest this increase and to relieve the pressure on the health system.”
Until yesterday, the Government had played down the prospect of closing schools, insisting they would only do so when the time was right.
But Mr Williamson said: “I’ve said before that if the science and the advice changed, such that keeping schools open would no longer be in the best interest of children and teachers, that we would act – we are now at that stage.”
In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said parents were facing having their children at home for many months, likely until after the summer holiday.
But in England, Mr Williamson would not be drawn on how long the measures would stay in place, saying only that schools would be closed “until further notice”.
The children of key workers such as those who work for the NHS, the police, or delivery drivers, will be able to go to school on Monday to ensure these essential employees can still support the fight against the virus.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves asked Mr Williamson what support there would be for parents outside these industries.
She said: “Parents may not be key workers but they will be key workers in their homes because they’re the ones who are paying the mortgage, the rent and the bills. So if parents can’t go out to work because their children can’t go to school, who will pay their salaries?”
Mr Williamson responded: “Where we are sort of dealing with in terms of this statement is making sure that we provide the provision that we need for those key workers in order to sustain our NHS.
“Whereas I very much accept the point that many wider issues are raised as a result of this, and this is why we had some reluctance to be in a position of closing schools rapidly but when the evidence and the science points out the fact that we do need to make changes, it’s right that we do.”
Leading unions have suggested a remedy would be to ensure working parents get paid parental leave when their child’s school or nursery closes.
The TUC said many parents are already having to take time off work to care for children, or could feel forced to ask grandparents to help out with childcare, potentially risking the health of vulnerable older people.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “As schools and nurseries close, lots of mums and dads will have no choice but to take time off work. They must be guaranteed paid parental leave.”
The announcement came as the Government also set out emergency legislation would better protection for renters during the crisis. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced the plans to ensure landlords cannot start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period, in a bid to ensure renters do not worry about the threat of losing their home.