Coronavirus: Portsmouth councillor 'not surprised' schools will close from Friday

THE cabinet member for education at the city council has admitted she is 'not surprised' schools will close from Friday following Boris Johnson's announcement this evening as coronavirus takes a stranglehold in the UK.
Suzy Horton

Picture: Habibur RahmanSuzy Horton

Picture: Habibur Rahman
Suzy Horton Picture: Habibur Rahman

The prime minister, speaking in his daily press conference, said that children of key workers such as police and those working in the NHS will still attend classes. Special provisions would also be made for vulnerable children, he declared.

Mr Johnson said: ‘We think now that we must apply further downward pressure with that upward curve by closing the schools.

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‘After schools shut their gates to most pupils they will remain closed to the majority of pupils.’

It comes as UK deaths reached 104 after the NHS said a further 32 people had died in England.

Councillor Suzy Horton said after the announcement: 'All through this situation we have been following government advice. I am not surprised that schools have now been closed although I am interested to see how the fact that it is only a partial closure plays out.

'We will have to look at how the secondary conditions for vulnerable children and children of key workers can be managed. We will need to speak to head teachers to examine the feasibility of this.'

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Coronavirus: Boris Johnson announces all UK schools will close from Friday
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On the issue of free school meals and examinations, Ms Horton added: 'We had already started planning for children on free school meals and how we can ensure they still have meal provision.

‘It is obviously difficult to reschedule examination plans as we don't know how long this will last.’