Michelle O’Neill calls for Northern Ireland schools to close over coronavirus

Stormont deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill has said schools, universities and colleges in Northern Ireland should close in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
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She claimed the public were concerned and fearful and the difference with the Republic of Ireland’s approach was causing confusion.

The Republic has implemented blanket closures and teachers just a few miles away from each other across the open Irish border are following different official approaches.

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Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster has backed the UK-wide strategy to keep public institutions open for now.

Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister. (Photo: PA Wire)Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister. (Photo: PA Wire)
Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister. (Photo: PA Wire)

Her Sinn Fein counterpart said: “Now is the time to take action and ensure the schools, universities and colleges are closed and that needs to happen immediately.”

She said large numbers of parents had decided not to send their children to classes today and government needed to listen to the public.

She added: “People are fearful.”

Her volte-face from Thursday when she backed the decision to keep schools open was made “on the back of public concern that is clearly there and the angst there among the public”.

She declared: “Now is the time to take action.”