Parents have launched a campaign to prevent ‘overzealous’ schools from imposing masks in schools after teaching unions threatened to derail Boris Johnson’s easing of Covid curbs.
Head teachers in England are set to ignore the Prime Minister’s bonfire of Plan B restrictions by compelling pupils to keep covering their faces in classrooms.
Britain’s big teaching unions have accused the embattled Tory leader of making the decision to save his own political career as he handles the fallout from ‘Partygate’, rather than basing it on ‘sound public health and scientific advice’.
The National Education Union warned against lifting Omicron measures ‘too quickly’, claiming it could lead to ‘more disruption’ for schools.
Its general secretary Dr Mary Bousted called the removal of masks ‘premature’, adding: ‘Rather than announcements aimed at saving Boris Johnson’s job, (the) Government should be exercising a duty of care to the nation’s pupils and the staff who educate them.’
Geoff Barton, the ASCL’s boss, said: ‘There is a danger that we are heading once again for a situation in which the Government gives the impression that the crisis is over when in actual fact there is huge disruption continuing to take place in education’.
Parent group UsForThem, which campaigned to get classrooms reopened during the pandemic, has now urged its supporters to bombard MPs and ministers with letters to ‘stop overzealous local public health authorities from unilaterally implementing face masks in schools’.
Mr Johnson’s easing of Omicron curbs was also welcomed by senior Conservative backbencher Robert Halfon and the National Deaf Children’s Society.
Parentvoice charity Parentkind has found that nearly three quarters of secondary school parents are opposed to masking in schools. Coverings for communal schools were more popular among parents.
Schools will order their pupils to keep wearing masks inside schools in defiance of the Prime Minister
Parents have launched a campaign to prevent ‘overzealous’ schools from imposing masks in schools
Parent group UsForThem, which fought to get classrooms reopened during the pandemic (left, campaigner Molly Kingsley), has now urged its supporters to bombard Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi (right) MPs and ministers with letters to ‘stop overzealous local public health authorities from unilaterally implementing face masks in schools’
Boris Johnson made yesterday’s statement to the Commons, announcing that WFH guidance will be dropped immediately and school mask rules would be repealed. Others restrictions, including the removal of compulsory facial coverings in public transport and shops, will be lifted next Thursday.
The draft letter by UsForThem warns that unless the Government steps in to ‘curtail the abilities of local authorities to introduce measures themselves, I fear that millions of children will still be subjected to masks in schools for months to come’.
‘To reverse the damage, the new guidance you issue must be extremely strongly worded indeed,’ the letter adds.
‘You should certainly forbid local authorities from unilaterally implementing face masks in schools. In some US states where governors have banned mask mandates, they have protected children by making legal provision for parental opt-out.’
Yesterday, Johnson made a statement before the Commons and announced that WFH guidelines would be removed immediately. He also stated that rules regarding masks in schools will be repealed starting today. The other restrictions, such as compulsory facial coverings in public transport and shops, and Covid tickets for large events or nightclubs entry, will cease next Thursday.
When the regulations expire March 24, the law requiring Covid users to isolate their bodies will also become invalid.
The move could help appease Mr Johnson’s Tory critics after a ‘Pork Pie Putsch’ against the PM over the lockdown party scandal melted away last night.
Head teachers wrote to parents after Mr Johnson’s announcement to say that they would like children to continue wearing masks.
Andy Byers, head of a state secondary in Durham, said the PM’s Plan B U-turn ‘creates some difficulty for us’.
‘Case rates in the northeast are still relatively high. There are currently more than 60 students in the program and only ten people who have tested positive. A small proportion of those people have been quite poorly,’ he said.
‘Other local secondary schools are all in a similar position: high levels of absence with some students missing important face-to-face teaching, and a reliance on supply teachers covering lessons.
‘For this reason I would like to encourage students to continue wearing face coverings for the next two or three weeks until (hopefully) case numbers fall.’
A spokeswoman for school leaders’s union NAHT admitted that there is ‘some concern’ about the easing of Plan B measures.
Its general secretary Paul Whiteman said: ‘The Prime Minister’s statement about lifting plan B measures will feel, to many school leaders, at odds with the current situation on the ground.
‘Mass disruption is ongoing, with high numbers of staff and pupils absent. School leaders are telling us they still feel very much in the eye of the Covid storm.’
It comes as business chiefs hailed yesterday’s WFH announcement, calling it ‘great news for small businesses and city centres that rely on office workers’.
And nightclub bosses indicated that they won’t continue enforcing Covid passes after next Thursday, telling Radio 4’s Today programme that there is ‘no proof anywhere in the world that nightclubs are any worse than any indoor setting’ for virus transmission.
However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan put himself at odds with the PM by ordering TfL customers to continue wearing masks on TfL Tube and bus services.
Britain’s top medics also insisted that scrapping Covid curbs at such pace ‘risks creating a false sense of security’ with the NHS still under pressure.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the British Medical Association council, said: ‘This decision clearly is not guided by the data. There were 7373 hospitalized patients when Plan B was implemented in December. The latest data this week shows there are 18,9791.’
He warned that ending mandates on mask-wearing would ‘inevitably increase transmission’ and place the most vulnerable at a higher risk.
And Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation representing health bodies, said now ‘is not the time for complacency about this virus’.
Saffron Corery, the deputy chief executive for NHS Providers, said some trusts were reporting that they expected their peak late this week despite falling case numbers nationwide due to variations in the hospital admissions.
‘That’s why it’s important that there is recognition that this surge isn’t over, and that the health service is still operating under extremely challenging circumstances,’ she added.
But, the latest easing was welcomed by business leaders. Kevin Ellis, chairman of PwC UK, told the Times: ‘The No1 question I’m being asked from our people is when can we get back to the office – they value time with colleagues, alongside the flexibility to work from home.
‘After the last lockdown restrictions were lifted, it took us two months to get back to 80 per cent capacity. We’re expecting a faster bounce-back now – people know the drill’.
Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the easing of Plan B would be applauded by her members, ‘particularly those based in city and town centres which rely on footfall from office workers’.
Chris Hirst, global CEO of Havas Creative, told Radio 4’s Today programme that ‘many of our employees really do want to come back’ and predicted most of the UK workforce would be back in the office from Monday. He said that he was going to be speaking with individual employees about WFH relaxation.
Matthew Fell, the CBI’s chief policy director, said: ‘It’s great news that Plan B is coming to an end and businesses will be hopeful that we are finally starting to turn the corner on Covid-19.
‘There’s a vital need now for greater consistency in how we live with the virus in the longer term. Swinging back and forth between restrictions and normality has been damaging.’
According to Mr Fell, hybrid work will continue as companies seek a balance between home and office.
He added: ‘There are clear benefits to being in the office, such as collaboration and on-the-job learning, and blanket work-from-home guidance has had significant downsides for city centre trade in sectors such as hospitality and retail.’
Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive of the New West End Company said: ‘With office employees set to return to London’s West End, retailers, bars and restaurants will be looking ahead to a promising year.
‘With the support of returning shoppers and Government alike, we are confident that the West End can achieve £7.5billion of turnover this year as it continues on the long road to recovery.’
Although the Federation of Small Business welcomed this move, bosses cautioned that it wasn’t all positive news against a background of rising taxes and business rates.
Its chairman Mike Cherry said: ‘We would now urge everyone to get behind small firms – be that on a commute, whilst working from home, online, or in-person – as they work night and day to recover from another incredibly stressful festive season.
‘Equally, it’s important to respect the house rules that each individual small firm has implemented to keep its customers and staff safe – many have invested thousands in making premises more secure.
‘Small firms and sole traders stand ready to spur our economic recovery from this recession as they did the last. New import checks were in effect last month. However, now they face the possibility of a job tax hike, dividend taxation increases, and bills for business rates coming to April.
‘The Government should be looking at policies that will empower small businesses and start-ups to get our economy firing on all cylinders again.’
According to the Office for National Statistics, it comes just after Covid cases dropped in the majority of UK areas for the first time since December early.
Mr Johnson said that while there are some places where cases are likely to continue rising, including in primary schools, scientists believed ‘it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally’.
Ministers create plans for passengers to prove proof that they have received a booster jab before entering the UK. All testing regulations will be dropped in favor of fully-vaccinated.
Ministers are set to ditch the Covid testing system for fully vaccinated holidaymakers within days.
After the cancellation of pre-return tests, and the costly post-arrival PCR swabs by the Government earlier in the month, this move will help the struggling travel industry.
It will save a family of four around £80 to £100 on testing costs. Returned double-jabbed Britons will need to take one quick lateral flow test within two days. A confirmatory test by PCR must be taken if the results are confirmed.
However, ministers plan to eliminate this requirement. They will announce their decision by Wednesday. Since January 2013, travel swabs have been introduced to allow fully-vaccinated Britons to go overseas without the need for a test upon return.
The Covid test system is being scrapped by ministers to ensure fully-vaccinated holidaymakers are available within days
Boris Johnson is the Prime Minister and spoke during Prime Minister’s Questions Wednesday
It is understood the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ could remain two jabs rather than three until spring. Travellers who do not have a booster vaccine could be subject to testing restrictions.
Non-vaccinated travelers will continue to be subjected to multiple testing and self-isolation.
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, is believed to be leading the effort for the removal of remaining restrictions on testing.
However, all arrivals will still need to fill out a passenger locator form within 48 hours of arrival in England.
Boris Johnson, his predecessor in this matter, came under heavy pressure at the Commons after announcing that Plan B curbs would be lifted.
After the cancellation of pre-return testing and the costly post-arrival PCR swabs by the Government earlier in the month, this move will help the struggling travel industry.
Former PM Theresa May said: ‘If we’re going to learn to live with Covid, we need to facilitate travel.
“So will.” [Mr Johnson] take this opportunity to announce that when Plan B restrictions are removed next week, the Government will also make it clear that there will be no testing requirements for anybody entering England who is fully-vaccinated?’
He replied: ‘We’re certainly reviewing the testing arrangements for travel and [Health Secretary Sajid Javid] will be making a statement in the next few days.’
Alluding to the fact many countries will likely require three jabs as a condition of entry, he added: ‘But I think it’s very important everybody in the country understands that getting your booster, wherever you want to go in the world, is going to be a pretty crucial thing to do.’
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: ‘Ministers have been saying all the right things about needing to get on with our lives – this feels like the last hurdle to achieving that.’
Now, what’s the future? When will it occur? Boris Johnson is your guide for the post-curb regulations. He announces the removal of Covid Plan B restrictions
SOFTWIRE
Working from Home
According to the Prime Minister, people are no longer required to work remotely. The Prime Minister urged everyone to contact their employers regarding arrangements for returning home to the office.
NOW –
MASKS IN SCHOOLS
Secondary school students will no longer need to cover their faces in class starting today.
This Thursday will see the end of the requirement that you wear masks when entering corridors or other areas.
Schools will stop using facemasks starting next Thursday
THE NEXT THUESDAY
MASKS IN PUBLIC PLACES
The Government won’t legally require that you cover your face in public places or shops starting next Thursday.
However, they insist that masks must be worn in enclosed areas and places where there is a possibility of people coming into contact with them.
This meant that the government would ‘trust in the judgement of the British people’ and not criminalize anyone choosing to don one.
COVID Passports
To enter large nightclubs or other venues, you will not need to provide proof of vaccination.
However, businesses can still use the NHS Covid Pass at their discretion.
BY THE EXTEND OF THE MOMENT
Travel
It is likely that an announcement soon will come out regarding the elimination of the requirement for travellers who are fully vaccinated to undergo a Covid screening upon their return to England.
No. 10 indicated that rules will be reviewed at the beginning of January.
Care Homes
The next days will see announcements about plans to reduce restrictions for care home visits. Care homes are required to restrict visitors from visiting for up 28 days in the event of a Covid epidemic affecting more than one resident.
BY MARCH at THE LATEST
SELF-ISOLATION
Boris Johnson indicated that he does not expect to renew Covid’s legal obligation to self-isolate from Covid once the rules expire on March 24, as he believes it is very likely.
According to him, this may happen sooner if data is available.
This guidance will replace the legal requirement and encourage people infected with the virus be cautious and considerate.
BY JULY
FREE TESTS
The free Covid lateral flow test looks set to end in July.
People will be pointed towards an online ordering system to purchase the tests, which cost £30 for a pack of seven.