Boris Johnson says UK schools won't open until COVID-19 infection rates go down

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday said that schools in country will continue to remain partially closed until at least March 8. Johnson, during his COVID-19 briefing on January 27, said that he shares frustration of teachers and students, and understands stress of parents, but it is important to keep schools shut until infection rates come down. Johnson, while anuncing a lockdown earlier this month, had said that if restrictions and vaccination programme were effective, his government would move to steadily reopen schools after February half-term.  

Read: UK Police Officers Face Fines After Having Haircuts At Police Station During Lockdown

'Schools safe but brings households toger'

Johnson said that schools are safe but it brings many households toger, which n contributes to spread of virus within community. Tory Prime Minister added that until infection rates in country come drastically down, schools will have to remain partially closed. Johnson said that his government is working to achieve goal of vaccinating prioritised 15 million people by mid-February, which will see those groups develop immunity in three weeks, by March 8, following which a decision will be taken.

Read: UK Launches New Global Platform To Track New COVID-19 Variants

"And I kw that everybody across country wants us to get schools open as fast as possible. And I can assure you that is ambition of this Government. But I also kw, we all kw, that with 37,000 people in hospital suffering from covid and infection rates still forbiddingly high you, we all, must be cautious and we all want only to open schools when we can be sure that this will t cause ar huge surge in disease," Johnson said on Wednesday. 

Read: UK: Vaccinated People 'may Spread COVID-19', Says England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Meanwhile, Johnson said that until students return back to ir classrooms, his government will continue to provide free school meals for eligible children. Johnson added that just like previous year, government will provide a catch-up programme this year as well with £300 million in additional funding for schools to provide tutoring. Johnson said that his government will work with teachers and parents to develop a long-term plan to help students who have fallen behind in ir education. UK government is also delivering 1.3 million laptops and tablets for needy children to study from home, with over 8,00,000 units already issued. 

Read: Former UK PM Gordon Brown Says Country Could Become 'failed State' Without Reforms

(Im Credit: AP)