Virus plan to keep schools open longer in summer
» Schools may stay open into August » NHS hits 1,000 doses a minute
CLASSROOMS could be open for longer in the summer term to help pupils recover from lockdown and catch up on work.
Number 10 is said to be weighing up a two-week extension for England’s schools into the first week of August, with those days redistributed as holidays in the autumn and winter, a senior Tory claimed.
Many schools are due to break up for summer on July 23 but delaying that would allow pupils to attend while buildings’ doors and windows can be open – improving ventilation and reducing the risk of infection.
Robert Halfon, the Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee,was reported as saying the change to the school year is under consideration by ministers.
He said: ‘We have to reform the school year. Things cannot carry on the way they did pre-Covid. From my discussions with No10, everything is up for debate.”
The NHS has been ramping up the vaccination drive, with 979 people a minute receiving jabs on Saturday between 11am and noon, the Vaccines Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, declared.
Ministers have confirmed that 12 million people have been vaccinated with the first dose but, asked whether the Government will meet its target of 15 million by mid-February, Mr Zahawi said: “The limiting factor is vaccine supply.” However, he is confident of being able to offer everybody over 50 and those aged 16 to 65 with certain health conditions a jab by May.
He added that the UK is beginning to store second doses.
Oxford vaccine lead researcher Professor Sarah Gilbert said that her team is working on having a version of the Oxford jab that can tackle the South Africa mutation “available for autumn”.
In the meantime, even if the
vaccine proved less effective against variants, the protection given would still take the pressure off the NHS.
She said: “Maybe we won’t be reducing the number of cases as much but we still won’t be seeing the deaths, hospitalisations and severe disease.”
Ministers said that immunity “passports” will not be issued but those inoculated can ask GPs for written proof if they need to travel.
Popular destinations, including Greece and Australia, have said they will only waive quarantine rules for those who have proof of a jab. Asked whether passports were being considered, Mr Zahawi ruled it out, saying it would be discriminatory.
He added: “The right thing to do is make sure that people come forward to be vaccinated because they want to, rather than it be made in some way mandatory through a passport.”
Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband raised questions over how passports would be used.
He said: “Is it just for international travel? Is it for as you go about your business in your society?”
The PM is due to give an update this month on the lifting of restrictions.
The target is for schools to return on March 8, and reports have claimed non-essential shops could reopen in April, followed by pubs in May.
However NHS chiefs have warned infections must plunge by another 95%, to 1,000 a day, before lockdown is lifted. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “We have crested the peak but we’re only just beginning the descent.”
But a leading scientist yesterday urged the reintroduction of the “rule of six”, with small outdoor gatherings being possible as early as next month.
Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, added that very large gatherings might be forced to keep restrictions for “a few years”.
Meanwhile, Shakin’ Stevens spoke of his relief yesterday after getting the jab – despite having a fear of needles.
The singer, 72, said staff at Adams Park Stadium, in High Wycombe, Bucks, had been “absolutely brilliant”.
Yesterday official statistics revealed that along with 12 million vaccinations, there have been 3,945,680 virus cases and 112,465 deaths.
KEEPING schools open longer in the summer, delaying until August a holiday usually starting in July, is worth considering when pupils have lost months of lessons during the pandemic’s lockdowns.
And what’s being considered for classrooms in England could also work in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland because the education crisis is damaging the prospects of young people in every corner of the United Kingdom.
But extending a term by a fortnight or so would be only a small piece of what’s needed to avoid a generation missing out, going into the world poorly equipped.
The PM has displayed little grasp of the size of the challenge, a task force he established appearing more of a sticking plaster unless there is major financial commitment.
Legions of additional teachers and tutors would be required to, for example, keep schools open longer every day and on Saturdays, or create special summer schools.
Every child matters. Let’s invest properly.