Coronavirus: NI schools to remain open for now - Weir

Mr Weir said twice-weekly information bulletins would be issued to schools

Schools in Northern Ireland will remain open for now, the education minister has said.

However, Peter Weir said they would have to close at some point in the future because of coronavirus.

In a letter to principals, he said he would "not be giving weight to popular opinion on social media" and would follow "expert clinical advice".

Twice-weekly information bulletins would be issued to schools, the minister added.

On Monday, seven more cases of coronavirus were confirmed, brining the total to 52.

Health Minister Robin Swann said as of 14:00 GMT Monday, 1,171 tests had been carried out here.

Testing had not been reduced but was being prioritised, in line with medical guidance from the UK government, he said.

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Mr Weir said closing schools was "not a step to be taken lightly and without due consideration to the significant consequences".

He said it would be a "policy decision backed up by clear and unambiguous advice from the chief medical officer and the Public Health Agency".

Mr Weir said its ramifications would be a "very significant number of parents being removed from their current jobs and instead staying at home to look after their children".

"Some of these will be doctors, nurses, police officers, paramedics and fire fighters, the very people we need at this key moment in time to complete the mission critical contingency planning for the weeks and months ahead," he added.

Some politicians are calling for schools to close immediately.

Speaking to BBC News NI on Monday Night, First Minister Arlene Foster conceded there was "confusion".

She said: "Obviously if you have a vulnerable child with an underlying health condition, it may be best to keep that child at home.

"But in terms of the school estate overall we have been taking advice from our expert medical advisors, not just in London but here in Belfast.

"They are saying to us that although it might seem counterintuitive to many people, it is important that we take the right decisions at the right time to try to push down the peak of the virus so that our NHS is able to manage it."

'Not suffer unduly'

Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University announced they will cease face-to-face lectures from Wednesday.

Laboratory sessions, tutorials and seminars will continue, unless otherwise advised.

QUB also said it understood "a small number of students have been identified with Covid-19 symptoms over the weekend".

"Routine testing is now not being offered so there is no confirmation from health authorities," the university said.

"The relevant local areas in the university have been informed."

Other steps being taken by the university include:

• International students will not be disadvantaged if they wish to return home before teaching finishes on 27 March

• All indoor, non-teaching, events on campus attended by more than 100 people from 18 March to 30 April will be cancelled or postponed

• Outdoor events expected to attract more than 500 will also be cancelled or postponed

• Teaching to be provided online to ensure that "students' education will not suffer unduly"

• Field trips being cancelled until further notice, with guidance on examination and assessment schedules to be issued

Ulster University said that student assessments and exams may have to be adjusted in light of those changes it was making.

UU advised students to keep checking arrangements in what they describe as a "rapidly changing situation."

Laboratory sessions, tutorials and seminars will continue at the university

All schools and colleges in the Republic of Ireland have closed.

Special schools in Belfast have announced they will close indefinitely from Monday.

A number of other schools in Northern Ireland have announced short-term closures, either to prepare for a longer-term closure or to allow deep cleans to take place.