Reopening England's schools is step towards normality, PM Johnson says

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Reopening England's schools is step towards normality, PM Johnson says

 

FILE PHOTO: Health workers and volunteers assist as students take coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests at Harris Academy Beckenham, ahead of full school reopening in England as part of lockdown restrictions being eased, in Beckenham, south east London, Britain, March 5, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The reopening of England's schools to all pupils on Monday will mark the first step back towards normality, and is only possible because of the efforts of the public to bring COVID-19 infection rates down, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

 

Johnson has announced a roadmap for lifting lockdown measures that sees schools open first, followed in later stages by the gradual easing of restrictions on mixing with other people and the re-opening of non-essential shops and other venues.

 

In the final stage, which will take place no earlier than June 21, the government hopes to remove all remaining legal limits on contact with others.

 

"The reopening of schools marks a truly national effort to beat this virus," Johnson said.

 

"It is because of the determination of every person in this country that we can start moving closer to a sense of normality – and it is right that getting our young people back into the classroom is the first step."

 

Each step on the roadmap will depend on the level of COVID-19 cases, the government has said. It hopes the pandemic can be contained by a vaccine programme that has already delivered a dose to nearly 22 million people, as well as regular testing.

 

Many secondary schools and colleges had already started inviting students for their first "lateral flow" COVID-19 tests, which give rapid results, with nearly 1 million conducted last week, the government said.

 

After three initial tests on site, students will be provided with two tests to use each week at home, it said, adding that nearly 57 million tests had been delivered to schools and colleges across the country.

 

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Pravin Char)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-07

 

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[BritManToo]

I can't believe my home country has sunk to such a state.

I can't imagine returning to the place as it is now!

[Surelynot]

All teaching staff could have been vaccinated in one to two days....the argument that that means others would not have been vaccinated as a consequence is rubbish.......they would have faced one or two days delay?

[stevenl]

I hope this works, but fear it may be a few weeks to soon.

[from the home of CC]

yea, lets see if we can breed another variant..

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

yea, lets see if we can breed another variant..

Don't fret we have SERCO, whack-a-mole and surging testing in our armory...and when all is said and done they are only teachers........☹️