But there have been widespread calls from many quarters to curtail school opening for some time. For a number of reasons - many economic, some seemingly ideological - the Johnson government has resisted this until it's suddenly panicked at the practically uncontrolled spread of COVID in London and the south east of England, which it's, perhaps conveniently, seeking to blame on this "new variant".
This was less than a week ago:
Government launches legal action against Greenwich school closures
The government has launched legal action against a London council over plans to close schools, using emergency coronavirus legislation for the first time to ensure face-to-face teaching continues until the end of term.
The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, issued a “temporary continuity direction” to Greenwich council, demanding the immediate withdrawal of a letter issued to headteachers over the weekend advising them to close schools early and switch to remote learning amid rising Covid infection rates in the capital.
Although the government has previously threatened legal action, this latest move signals its determination to keep schools open in the run-up to the Christmas holidays and beyond. If Greenwich fails to comply the Department for Education can seek a court injunction
Greenwich and Islington councils had advised schools to close, except to the children of key workers and those classed as vulnerable, and switch to online lessons in the last few days of term to help slow the spread of the virus. The government has not yet launched legal action against Islington.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/14/sadiq-khan-urges-pm-to-let-london-schools-close-early-to-combat-covid
The coronavirus has throughout its course had a staunch ally in the useless Westminster government under Johnson. They're both dangerous. As a combination ...
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