DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson says Michael McBride should focus on solutions, rather than the ‘blunt instrument’ of closing schools

The Lagan Valley MP was speaking after the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Michael McBride suggested the behaviour of parents at school gates was contributing to the spread of the virus — rather than what was happening in schools themselves.

The DUP man, speaking to the News Letter, said: “We are very concerned about the closure of schools and it remains our view that, where it is possible, schools should remain open.

“If the Chief Medical Officer is suggesting that the problem with the transmission of the virus is not in the schools but around the schools and at school gates, then clearly he should say that and measures should be put in place to reduce the risk of transmission in the vicinity of schools.”

He made those comments after Dr McBride, speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday morning, said: “Schools remain safe places for children and for teachers. We have very, very little evidence of significant transmission within schools.”

He added: “The risk with schools is the activity that goes on around schools — it’s what children do on the way to school, and from school.

“It’s actually about what parents do in and around schools when children are back in terms of how parents congregate at school gates, how parents behave differently.”

Sir Jeffrey continued: “We have to recognise the harm that it does t our children’s education every time we close schools and disrupt their learning and educational development.

“We will continue to engage with the Chief Medical Officer on this, and we really do need to see the CMO being more focussed on solutions that avoid this blunt instrument approach.”

He added: “If the CMO is basing his recommendation for closure on the risk of transmission in the vicinity of the schools, then let the health authorities use the two weeks to put the measures in place that are required to keep our schools open.”