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No blanket closure for schools in ‘very high’ alert areas, PM confirms

Schools in areas with a “very high” Covid-19 alert will not be subject to blanket closures, the prime minister has confirmed.

Boris Johnson told the House of Commons today that despite stricter curbs on socialising and other activities in so-called “tier three” areas, schools would remain open.

The rolling out of a new triple tier system across England means regions will impose different rules depending on whether they are deemed to have a “medium”, “high” or “very high risk”.

However, the government has confirmed that current rules for schools – which include a different tiered system of actions that can be taken – will remain in place in all three types of area.

Johnson said today that the majority of the country will be re-classified as being at “medium” alert level, while those already undergoing local lockdowns will make up the “high” alert tier.

In tier three areas, the government “will set a baseline of prohibiting social mixing indoors and in private gardens and, I’m sorry to say, closing pubs and bars”, he added.

The PM explained that additional measures and “more severe local action” could take place in these regions.

“This could lead to further restrictions on the hospitality, leisure, entertainment or personal care sectors but retail, schools and universities will remain open,” he added.

The DfE confirmed today that current rules for schools will remain in place. These require staff and pupils with classic Covid symptoms to self-isolate and arrange a test, and state that schools should send home those who have been in close contact with confirmed cases.

Confusingly, schools are also subject to their own four “tiers” of action that can be taken in areas under local lockdowns. These are not in line with the three tiers announced by Johnson today.

The PM also announced today that Liverpool, which recorded 600 Covid cases per 100,000 people, well above the national average of 74, would be the first area placed in the “very high” tier.

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  1. An absolute disgrace if you ask me:
    •Putting our dear teachers lives at risk!
    •Putting our BAME teachers lives at risk!
    •impossible social distancing rules in schools due to schools essentially just re-opening without any extra space or teachers(Social distancing is a must!).
    •Bubbles plan is a nonsense, there are schools were pupils test positive and these schools are still fully open and no bubbles sent home as Headteachers are under pressure to keep the school open (Shambolic policy/Russian roulette)
    •Behavioural problems have gone up 10-fold due to all these inconsistent Covid-19 rules implemented in schools.
    •Only 2.3% pay rise for experienced teachers, whose workload and targets have increased because of all the inconsistent politically motivated rules.
    •Teachers Pay definitely not in line with inflation. Not to mention teachers who live in inner/outer regions forced to take lower salaries as schools are using their clout to bully them into doing so.
    •Exams in England still to go ahead as per normal despite the increase in disruption and covid cases

    This is a plan is a total shambles and no doubt research will be biased towards government policy.