All schools in Greenwich to close from TOMORROW with lessons moving online
London borough closes ALL schools as Tier 3 looms next week: Labour leader of Greenwich stops lessons early before Christmas break over rising Covid cases – despite government threat to SUE to keep classes running
- Greenwich council leader warns London borough is seeing its highest rates of Covid infections since March
- The south-east London borough is facing ‘exponential growth’ of virus, warned Labour leader Danny Thorpe
- Schools will be closed from Monday evening and asked to move classes online just four days before term ends
- Islington council in North London says it will announce a ‘range of extra measures’ to support locals tomorrow
All schools in Greenwich are set to close from tomorrow as lessons move online amid a spike in Covid-19 cases – despite a Government warning to keep classes running or face legal action.
Danny Thorpe, leader of the Labour-run council, has told all schools in the south-east London borough to close four days before the Christmas break, warning the local Covid-19 situation was ‘escalating extremely quickly’.
All schools will close tomorrow evening, with Cllr Thorpe’s open letter failing to explain whether the closure would continue when pupils return in the New Year.
It states: ‘Although London is currently in Tier 2, this is being reviewed by the Government who will advise us shortly about the decisions they make.’
No other London borough has followed suit as yet, but some councils are urging pupils and their families to get tested – while Islington said it would announce a ‘range of extra measures’ tomorrow.
Tonight’s announcement comes after it was revealed the Government could force schools to remain open in the run-up to Christmas by applying for a High Court injunction.
The decision in Greenwich comes as:
- London is expected to enter Tier 3 lockdown restrictions after seeing higher infection rates than other parts of the county. A decision on the latest social distancing measures will be made this Wednesday
- Health Secretary Matt Hancock is prepared to split rules across the capital – plunging the worst-hit boroughs into tighter restrictions while being more lenient with others
- The UK recorded 18,447 coronavirus cases today, 1,175 more than last Sunday, as well as 144 new deaths
- Boris Johnson has called for restraint from families this Christmas, urging Brits to ‘to think hard about how you choose to enjoy that relaxation’
- Oxford University vaccinology professor said chances of getting its jab by the end of 2020 are ‘pretty high’
Greenwich’s council leader Danny Thorpe has told all schools in the south-east London borough to close from Monday evening as he warned its Covid-19 situation was ‘escalating extremely quickly’
Despite London’s growing Covid-19 rate, there are warnings not to put the capital under Tier 3 restrictions, amid fears it could be ‘catastrophic’ for businesses in the run up to Christmas
Cllr Thorpe’s statement this evening read: ‘I have today been briefed by colleagues from Public Health England that the pandemic in Greenwich is now showing signs that we are in a period of exponential growth that demands immediate action.
‘We now have the highest rates of infection in Greenwich than at any time since March, and for these reasons I have therefore asked all schools in Greenwich to close their premises from Monday evening and move to online learning for the duration of the term, with the exception of key worker children and those with specific needs (exactly the same as in the first lockdown).
‘It is absolutely essential that everyone understands this is NOT an opportunity to extend Christmas celebrations in any way, and I’m asking for this to happen to reduce the risk of transmission.’
The latest data shows there were 715 new coronavirus cases recorded in Greenwich in the seven days to December 9 – the equivalent of 248.3 cases per 100,000 people.
This is up from a rate of 158.0 in the seven days to December 2.
Cllr Thorpe apologised for the closure, but warned families to get tested for Covid-19 as he warned they face an ‘extreme risk,’ due to climbing cases.
The move could tempt other boroughs to follow suit, as London’s infection rate per 100,000 people in the capital stood at 191.8 on December 6, up from 158.1 the previous week.
It means London is ahead of regions, such as the West Midlands, which are already in Tier 3 restrictions.
Other boroughs have stopped short of closing schools, but Labour-run Islington council leader Richard Watts said the local authority will be ‘announcing tomorrow a range of extra measures’ to support residents.
Havering has the worst Covid-19 infection rate in the capital, with 470.4 cases per 100,000 people.
Greenwich council leader Danny Thorpe published an open letter this evening warning the south-east London borough’s Covid crisis ‘demands immediate action’
Yesterday the local council ran out of tests at one of three new testing centres.
Conservative leader of the council Damian White told the BBC today: ‘Whilst we’re in Tier 2, we’re being treated as if we were in Tier 3, so we’re being given additional resources from the Government and support from across London and the region to make sure we can lower the amount of transmissions.’
Cllr White has urged all non-symptomatic secondary school staff, pupils and their families to get tested.
Speaking on Friday, he said: ‘We are aware that rates in young people have been increasing particularly quickly.
‘I urge those groups who do not have symptoms to step forward and get a test this weekend.’
New powers introduced through the Coronavirus Act allow the Government to issue ‘directions’ to headteachers around education provision during the pandemic.
The Government has powers to issue a High Court injunction to keep schools open, but Greenwich has gone ahead and closed classrooms for the last four days of term amid ‘exponential growth,’ in Covid-19 cases. The closure comes as shoppers continued to flock to Oxford Street in London today, with little room for social distancing
London already has a higher case rate than other parts of England living under Tier 3 restrictions. The case rate per 100,000 people in the capital stood at 191.8 on December 6, up from 158.1 the previous week
Should schools fail to comply after being directed to remain open, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson can apply for a High Court injunction forcing them to do so.
It is understood that directions under the act would only be used as a last resort, while a court order would be sought if they were not followed.
The powers came to light after a headteacher in Ware, Hertfordshire, was sent a ‘minded to direct’ letter from schools minister Nick Gibb warning that the emergency powers could be used.
Presdales School had planned to switch to online learning for the final week of term to ensure staff and pupils did not have to self-isolate on Christmas Day, Schools Week reported.
But it was said to have scrapped the plans after receiving the letter.
The Department for Education (DfE) said keeping education settings open remained a ‘national priority’ and that it was ‘vital’ children remain in school until the end of the term.
With London teetering on the edge of Tier 3 restrictions, local authorities have urged families to get tested for Covid-19, while Islington Council said it was going to announce a ‘range of extra measures’ to protect residents on Monday
Speaking about the decision to close Greenwich schools, Cllr Thorpe said: ‘This is honestly one of the most difficult questions I have wrestled with during all my time as leader.
‘The Department for Education are clear this isn’t their position and indeed have issued directives to some schools.
‘However, I cannot in all good conscience stand by whilst the numbers are doubling so quickly.
‘If the numbers are indeed doubling every 4 days, they would do so again by this Thursday, exposing more people to risk.’
Teaching unions have previously called for remote learning in parts of the south east.
The National Association of Head Teachers and Association of School and College Leaders urged the government to consider ‘immediately moving secondary schools and colleges to remote learning,’ while a mass testing programme is carried out in parts of London, Kent and Essex.
Tonight’s announcement comes after MPs and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan warned Tier 3 restrictions would be ‘catastropic’ for the capital, causing ‘untold damage’.
He tweeted tonight: ‘This weekend we’ve increased testing capacity in the worst hit areas – we now need Govt to support this across the capital too.’
In a letter seen by The Mail on Sunday, the MPs urge the Prime Minister to spare the capital because shutting it down would hurt not just Londoners, but ‘people across the nation’ who depend on the ‘wealth and prosperity generated by our great city’.
A decision on whether to plunge London into the highest lockdown before Christmas was going to the wire this weekend, with a row brewing with Ministers after police and local councils objected to plans to divide London into different tiers.
With the capital’s businesses saying tier 3 would deliver a £3 billion hit to the economy, Ministers including Michael Gove have suggested that only the outer London boroughs with the highest infection rates should go in to the top tier.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said yesterday: ‘Londoners have made monumental sacrifices this year in order to keep each other safe and protect our NHS. While the rollout of the vaccine this week may feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel, my message is clear – we still have a long winter ahead of us and we must all continue to play our part to keep ourselves and others safe.
‘Nobody wants the capital to face Tier 3 restrictions – it would be catastrophic for our pubs, bars, restaurants and culture venues – but with cases rising we are now at a tipping point, which is why we all have a responsibility to do everything we can to get on top of the virus by following the rules.’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan warned Tier 3 restrictions in the run-up to Christmas would be ‘catastrophic,’ amid claims Health Secretary Matt Hancock could split the worst-hit parts of the capital off into Tier 3 but leave the majority in Tier 2
Britain recorded 18,447 Covid cases today, with Boris Johnson warning the country to ‘err on the side of caution,’ rather than have a ‘big blow-out with multiple households’
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is also understood to be considering splitting the worst-hit parts of the capital off into Tier 3 but leaving the majority of the city in Tier 2.
It would mean restaurants and other hospitality businesses in London’s West End could stay open, while those in suburban areas would close.
Earlier today, Boris Johnson admitted in a virtual fund-raising event for Conservative party members that people needed to be cautious over the festive period.
In messages revealed today, he said: ‘My message to everybody is we do have this period of relaxation of measures at Christmas, but I really urge people to think hard about how you choose to enjoy that relaxation. I really would urge people to err on the side of caution rather than, I’m afraid, have a big blow-out with multiple households.
‘I know the rules say three households, but there is ample scope alas for further increases in this disease during tough winter months.’
NHS executive Chris Hopson has urged Mr Johnson to exercise ‘extreme caution’ before putting any region into a lower tier as any relaxing of rules ‘will trigger a third wave’.
There were 144 new Covid-19 deaths recorded today, but there was added hope as an Oxford University professor said the chances of its vaccine being rolled out by the end of the year are ‘pretty high’
He instead insisted that areas such as London – which sees 211 cases per 10,000 people each week – should be moved up to Tier Three to get numbers under control. He also said Essex, Kent and Lincolnshire have shown worrying figures.
Mr Hopson – the chief executive of NHS Providers which represents trusts across the country – said the current rise in cases is ‘worrying’, especially as it came towards the end of the England’s second nation-wide lockdown.
Mr Johnson’s warning came despite the welcome news that the chances of Oxford University’s vaccine being being rolled out by the end of this year are ‘pretty high’.
The vaccine from Oxford and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is yet to be approved for use in the UK – with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) still reviewing trial data.
The Government has secured 100 million doses of the vaccine, with four million ready for key workers once approval is given.
Oxford University vaccinology professor Sarah Gilbert said the chances of getting the jab – which is 90 per cent effective and costs just £2 per dose – before the end of 2020 ‘are pretty high’.
