NI schools likely to remain closed until September 2020 - Arlene Foster
and live on Freeview channel 276
The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon.
All of the schools in Northern Ireland will close to both staff and pupils from Monday March 23, 2020.
“Today we have agreed that all schools will close to pupils from Monday March 23,” said First Minister Arlene Foster.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“The societal and economic impact of this measure will be enormous as parents will have to adjust their routine to deal with this unplanned long-term closure.”
Mrs. Foster continued: “Our medical advice was to delay this step as long as possible as the closure will take us beyond the natural break for the summer.
“This is unprecedented.”
SDLP leader and MP for Foyle, Colum Eastwood, welcomed the news.
“I welcome the decision to close schools from 5pm this evening to prevent further transmission of Coronavirus.
“It’s time to scale up our response - that means further support for the self-employed, renters and the vulnerable.
“We need to be united and decisive,” said Mr. Eastwood.