Schools in talks to extend Easter holiday for two weeks in fight against coronavirus
SCHOOLS could extend the Easter holidays for two weeks in the fight against coronavirus.
Education authorities have argued there is a "real logic" to adding a week at either side of the April holidays as cases of the deadly bug continue to climb.
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Head teachers have already been summoned to speak to ministers about emergency plans as the number of UK cases today reached 820 with 11 deaths.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Geoff Barton, general secretary of Association of School & College Leaders (ASCL), said: "Undoubtedly, there have already been discussions about it.
"Parents will already have plans of one type or another for what they are doing with their children over Easter.
"In some ways it becomes less disruptive if it were just part of a kind of elongated planned holiday."
This would mean pupils would be away from classrooms for around a month, depending on the usual length of their break.
But the UK government has maintained schools will remain open in the UK, despite countries including Spain, France and Ireland all announcing their own schools would be temporarily closed in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus.
Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, has previously insisted that the "impact of closing schools on children's education will be substantial, but the benefit to public health would not be".
He is now expected to meet with union leaders and school bosses to determine what should happen in the face of the health crisis.
Boris Johnson yesterday said they were continuing to follow advice from scientists, adding: "We are not closing schools now, the scientific advice is that this could do more harm than good at this time.
"Of course we are keeping this under review and this may change as the disease spreads. Schools should only close if they are specifically advised to do so."
LESSON PLAN
Some schools have already shut for short periods where children or staff have been exposed to the virus.
And this week, it was revealed teachers are preparing "home-learning packs" in preparation for a possible shutdown.
The PM confirmed Britain is in the "delay" phase to try and stem the spread.
Boris Johnson described the outbreak the "worst public health crisis in a generation" and "it will spread further" as he revealed new measures to try.
He told the nation to stay at home if they have a cough, adding: "Many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time."
The PM admitted there would be “severe disruption”, but the Government was ready to adapt to keep people safe."
Overnight, it was revealed a newborn baby had tested positive for coronavirus, making the child the world's youngest victim.
The mum was tested at North Middlesex Hospital but her positive result was known only after the birth.
BATTLING THE BUG
In the last 24 hours the UK has seen an enormous 35 per cent increase in cases of the deadly virus.
Scotland also saw its first coronavirus death, after an older patient with pre-existing health conditions died.
Yesterday, it was announced that football in England was put on hold and reported that all mass gatherings could be cancelled from as early as next weekend.
The 2020 London Marathon was yesterday postponed until October.
Meanwhile cities and towns across Britain appeared deserted at times on Friday 13 as people worked from home and avoided shops and transport links over concerns about the virus.
One of the country's top scientists said yesterday that millions of Brits need to catch coronavirus so we can develop "herd immunity".
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak a global pandemic as more than 140,000 people have been diagnosed with the killer bug across 114 countries.
More than 5,000 people have died - around 3,000 of them in China - after contracting COVID-19 across the globe.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the medical body has "rung the alarm bell loud and clear".
