New B117 Covid strain a factor in pushing school openings back

Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill jointly made the announcement at a press conference today, with the latter telling reporters that they had been left with “no choice”.

This will means another 40 days from now until most children will see their classrooms again (although mainstream schools are staying shut, special schools will remain open).

However, the duo also cautioned that this may yet be pushed back further.

Mrs Foster said: “Today the Executive has decided that schools will not be able to fully open again before March 5 [which is a Friday, meaning the first school day would be March 8].

“This will apply to all educational settings – including pre-schools, nurseries, primaries, and post-primaries.

“Special schools will remain open, and mainstream schools will continue to provide supervised learning for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

“Childcare settings and childminders will also remain open.”

A reporter asked how firm the March 8 date is, to which Ms O’Neill replied: “We had gave an indicative date of mid-February.

“Obviously given the situation with this new variant that’s spreading more rapidly, I think we’re left with no choice other than to extend the date.

“I wish we could be even more certain that that’s the definitive date. Unfortunately that’s not the case, we can’t be at this stage. But we will keep this under review.”

The next date for reviewing this decision is around February 18, she said.

Ms O’Neill added that whilst Northern Ireland has seen a recent decrease in positive Covid cases, “recent data suggests that the B117 variant has become more common here; this is very concerning as we know this strain of the virus is significantly more transmissible”.

A paper circulated by the London government about this B117 strain on January 22 said that it “appears to have substantially increased transmissibility compared to other variants and has grown quickly to become the dominant variant in much of the UK”.

It also states that “there is a realistic possibility” that B117 is “associated with an increased risk of death compared to non-variant-of-concern viruses”.

During the press conference, Arlene Foster spoke of her own experiences of coping with school closures.

“As a working mother with children still in full time education, I’ve a sense how difficult homeschooling can be – practically, educationally, and emotionally.

“A kitchen table is no substitute for the school desk and, as my children would no doubt agree, parents are no substitute for trained teachers or lecturers.”

More from this reporter:

Click here: McCourt funeral just latest of six republican send-offs during Covid crisis

Click here: Pressure mounts on SF as Foster demands party say who was at IRA man’s funeral

Click here: Late IRA man Eamonn McCourt ‘killed one of his own comrades by mistake’

Click here: SF issues press release about farm conditions in India amid clamour for Londonderry funeral answers

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