LabourList blog by Elliot Chappell
As London enters Tier 3 this morning, councils in the capital
continue to grapple
with dilemma of whether schools should be open this week.
Following legal threats from the government after boroughs
Greenwich and Islington advised schools to close slightly early
ahead of the coming Christmas rules relaxation next week, two
further councils have defied the government. Despite the DfE
telling schools they must stay open, Redbridge Council has
tweeted that it will
"support our local schools if they choose to move to online
learning" while Waltham Forest has shared a statement saying it has
"recommended" they do the same. London currently has the worst
rates of Covid in the country and prevalence is highest among
secondary school-age children.
Downing Street announced yesterday the roll-out of mass testing
in schools, with lateral flow test kits to be sent to schools, as
DfE
figures show that 60% of state-funded secondaries sent one or
more pupils home last week, with an average of 24 pupils in state
secondary schools isolating per confirmed Covid case. Labour
welcomed the news, but pointed out it has been calling for this
for weeks. Students and staff identified as having had close
contact with a Covid case will be able to get a daily test over
seven days from January, while teachers will get weekly tests.
GMB has argued that school staff not medically trained should not
be performing these tests. The trade union called the plan
"dangerous" and highlighted that the chance of returning a false
positive in a lateral flow test when performed by scientists is
20%, doubling to 42.5% when self administered.
Schools and testing will no doubt come up at PMQs this afternoon,
while Covid Christmas rules should feature as we are now just
seven days away from the rules relaxation. The Labour leader
could also mention the "bumper
bonus" 40% pay rise awarded to this year. He clearly ended up on the Prime
Minister's nice list despite breaking lockdown rules.
The
schools dilemma facing councils as Covid cases rise ahead of
Christmas
