Prime minister Boris Johnson is about to address the nation on new covid measures. Follow this thread for updates
Johnson has announced a new national lockdown. Schools and colleges must move to remote provision from tomorrow, except for vulnerable children and children of key workers, he said
Johnson said "it's not possible or fair" for all exams to go ahead this summer as normal. He said education secretary Gavin Williamson will work with Ofqual to put in place "alternative arrangements"
"We will provide extra support to ensure that pupils entitled to free school meals will continue to receive them while schools are closed and we will distribute more devices to support remote education," Johnson added
Johnson: "I completely understand the inconvenience and distress this late change will cause millions of parents and pupils up and down the country"
He said schools are not unsafe for children, but the problem is that schools may act as "vectors for transmission" causing covid to spread between households
Johnson said he hoped schools can reopen after the February half term and the government can "cautiously" begin to move regions down the tiers then
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