NI schools likely to remain closed until September 2020 - Arlene Foster

All schools in Northern Ireland have been instructed to close amid the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Quinn
By Andrew Quinn
Published 18th Mar 2020, 17:03 BST
Updated 18th Mar 2020, 18:35 BST
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The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon.

All of the schools in Northern Ireland will close to both staff and pupils from Monday March 23, 2020.

“Today we have agreed that all schools will close to pupils from Monday March 23,” said First Minister Arlene Foster.

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“The societal and economic impact of this measure will be enormous as parents will have to adjust their routine to deal with this unplanned long-term closure.”

Mrs. Foster continued: “Our medical advice was to delay this step as long as possible as the closure will take us beyond the natural break for the summer.

“This is unprecedented.”

SDLP leader and MP for Foyle, Colum Eastwood, welcomed the news.

First Minister Arlene Foster (right) and deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill announce the decision to close all schools in Northern Ireland because of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo: Pacemaker)First Minister Arlene Foster (right) and deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill announce the decision to close all schools in Northern Ireland because of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo: Pacemaker)
First Minister Arlene Foster (right) and deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill announce the decision to close all schools in Northern Ireland because of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo: Pacemaker)

“I welcome the decision to close schools from 5pm this evening to prevent further transmission of Coronavirus.

“It’s time to scale up our response - that means further support for the self-employed, renters and the vulnerable.

“We need to be united and decisive,” said Mr. Eastwood.

Related topics:Colum EastwoodCoronavirusFoyleSDLP