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Sadiq Khan is urging the government to consider asking London schools and universities to close early and reopen later in January due to “significant” coronavirus outbreaks among young people aged 10-19.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London said that “urgent consideration should be given to closing secondary schools, sixth grade and FE universities a few days before and keeping them closed for longer after Christmas.”
It occurs when the schools of Greenwich, in south-east London, are being forced to close and move classes online amid the “exponential growth” of the pandemic.
The mayor said the recent increase COVID-19 Cases across the capital was “deeply troubling” and needed more government action.
Wrote to Boris johnson on Sunday requesting periodic tests for people who cannot work from home, as well as for students and staff at high schools and universities.
He said face covering should be mandatory in crowded outdoor public spaces due to the Christmas surge in shoppers.
Sadiq Khan Says Face Covering Should Be Mandatory In Crowded Outdoor Spaces
“The increase in coronavirus cases in our capital is deeply concerning,” Khan said.
“I call on the government to provide urgent additional support to control the spread, save lives and livelihoods, and ensure our NHS is not overwhelmed this winter.”
He added: “Increased testing is key to this, so I want regular asymptomatic testing to be extended to everyone who is unable to work from home and to students and staff at London high schools, sixth grade college. degree and FE (higher education). universities “.
Mr. Khan suggested that all schools and universities should receive “priority tests.”
He also warned that London’s shift from Level 2 to Level 3 would have a “catastrophic” economic impact on businesses, putting “hundreds of thousands of livelihoods at stake.”
The government review of all levels of England will take place on 16 December.
Khan also asked the prime minister to establish a business compensation plan for the loss of income during the Christmas period.
Khan says schools and universities should receive ‘priority testing’
He said current support was “insufficient” to support many businesses and freelancers.
“Time is running out to control the virus in our city, so I urge the government to heed my call and give us the additional support that we desperately need,” Khan said.
The latest data from Public Health England showed that there was a increase in COVID-19 case rates in all London boroughs in the seven days until December 9.
There were also 17 districts where the seven-day rate exceeded 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The latest figures show that the Havering district has the highest coronavirus rate in London, with 1,314 new cases registered in the seven days to December 9.
