Boris Johnson hints schools will be shut within DAYS after 650,000 sign petition
BORIS Johnson dropped a heavy hint tonight that schools WILL close within days after 650k people signed a petition urging him to keep kids at home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Parents are already choosing to keep their kids off school, and now the Prime Minister has hinted he is considering closing them.
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Asked today about kids staying at home due to the killer bug, the PM admitted he "completely" understood parents concerns.
The PM said: "I understand completely where people are at with that, we're keeping it under continuous review."
Mr Johnson also insisted free school meals would be protected for students no longer going.
He said: "As we come to the decision on schools we will have plans ready to go on that, Gavin Williamson education secretary has a plan to make sure that parents with kids who are eligible for free school meals get the compensation or the treatment they need one way or another."
No10 sources also said they were in discussions about whether to postpone crucial exams.
Downing Street suggested there could be a skeleton service where the kids of key workers such as NHS staff will continue to be taught to allow their parents to carry on working.
A No10 source said: "There has got to be a way of ensuring key workers get to work."
It comes as a petition demanding the Government “#closetheschools” amassed hundreds of thousands of signatures.
It says: “We would like the government to at least consider closing schools/colleges down in the coming weeks or as soon as possible, in addition to taking necessary actions to prevent further spread.
“We would like the Government or Parliament to enforce this action due to the growing fear among parents and students that attend school.
“The ability to focus or concentrate is affected in addition to the growing fears of the Corona-virus.
“In our view, the government and health officials around the world are more 'reactive' rather than 'proactive'. This will result in more spread as time is given for the virus to do so.”
It comes as the PM said we are engaged in a war against the disease which we have to win.
He and Chancellor Rishi Sunak said they would do "whatever it takes" to support the economy during this vital time.
Extra measures to keep the sinking economy afloat included:
- Cash grants of £25,000 for medium-sized businesses and thousands of £10,000 grants for small businesses – totalling £11.5bn
- Lenders will offer 3 month mortgage holiday to anyone who needs it
- Business rates holiday for 12 months for ALL firms in retail, hospitality and leisure – worth £9.5bn
- Emergency powers for the Chancellor if he needs to take more action
- Insurance forms will be forced to pay out to pubs, restaurants and shops who need help
Teachers have also bashed staying open, revealing schools were short on staff and kids were staying home.
Katharine Birbalsingh, headmistress of Michaela Community School in Wembley, north-west London, said: “Non-essential contact for everyone except for teachers who should congregate with several hundred or even thousands daily?
“I’m no virologist but how do I make sense of this to staff? Also, dozens/hundreds of parents are too scared to send kids in to school!”
Andrew O’Neill, head teacher of All Saints Catholic College in west London, said the situation was “unbelievable”.
He explained 30 per cent of his pupils had not turned up and a quarter of his teachers were now in self isolation.
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