Protecting lives, securing livelihoods
Does the pandemic know it is Christmas time?
by Victor Cherubim
Politicians around the world are in an almost impossible position over what to do over the Christmas holidays. After what we have seen in the U.S. during Thanksgiving holiday, it does seem like the take up of the Christmas easing may lead to dangerously large spike in infections.
The fear is if rules are not relaxed there may be “mass disobedience” and it would be far harder to get compliance back after that, unless you are in Sri Lanka where we are told every move of yours is monitored by the security services. This is all very well and good, but how many nations are the size of Sri Lanka?
By Press Association 2021
The Ofsted chief inspector supported ministersâ decision to keep schools in England open until the end of term
Closing schools could see children “pay the long-term price”, the Ofsted chief inspector has warned as the Government faces a battle with councils.
Amanda Spielman has supported ministers’ decision to keep schools in England open until the end of term as she warned that “last-minute decisions” to close schools could affect children and working parents.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told the Labour-run Greenwich council to keep schools open to all pupils this week or it will face legal action.
Two London councils back down over school closures
PA
15 December 2020, 8:54 pm
Redbridge Council in east London said it would support schools switching to online learning ahead of Christmas, as two other local authorities in the capital backed down from advising early closures.
The Labour-run Greenwich and Islington councils rowed back on their advice for pupils to be taught online in the last few days of term amid rising Covid-19 cases in London.
The leader of Greenwich Council, Cllr Danny Thorpe, said he had “no choice” but to ask schools to remain open following threats of legal action from the Government.
Council tells schools not to close early after legal threat
The schools had been advised to close early to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading
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The leader of Greenwich Council has said he has “no choice” but to ask schools to remain open following threats of legal action from the Government.
The local authority has agreed to withdraw its advice to schools in the south-east London borough to move to online learning for the last few days of term amid rising Covid-19 rates in the capital.
Schools in Greenwich had been told to switch to remote learning for most pupils from Monday evening in a letter sent out by Mr Thorpe on Sunday.
The latest data shows there were 715 new coronavirus cases recorded in Greenwich in the seven days to December 9 – the equivalent of 248.3 cases per 100,000 people.This is up from a rate of 158.0 in the seven days to December 2.Leaders at two other Labour-run local authorities – Waltham Forest and Islington – have also advised schools to move to online learning for the last few days of term amid rising Covid-19 rates in the capital.
It came as London mayor Sadiq Khan called on the government to consider closing all secondary schools and colleges in the capital early and reopen later in January due to coronavirus.