Living with Covid Plan – What does it mean for FE?

The Prime Minister explained his ‘Living with Covid plan today (21st February 2022). Boris Johnson said ‘Let us learn to live with Covid’

The Prime Minister opened that we are now past the peak of the Omicron wave, with 71% of all adults now boosted with vaccines and we have sufficient levels of immunity.

The PM announced the removal of all domestic restrictions from Thursday 24th Feb – removing mandatory self isolation and an end routine contact tracing. From the 1st April 2022 advise people to stay at home, encourage personal responsibility.

Removing staff and students to complete twice weekly Covid tests

The Prime Minister also announced the removing staff and students to complete twice-weekly symptomatic tests.

The PM also announced the end of Free Covid testing for the general public in England from 1 April 2022

Boris Johnson announced that the government will continue to provide free tests for symptomatic people for the oldest age groups and those who are most vulnerable. The Government will work with retailers to ensure everyone who wants a test can buy one.

Sector Reaction to the ‘Living with Covid Plan’

ASCL comment on government announcement of end to Covid self-isolation and testing rules

Commenting on the government’s announcement that Covid self-isolation and testing rules will end on Thursday 24 February, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We understand the desire to live with Covid and to return to a semblance of normality after two years of societal and educational upheaval. Our concern is that just by saying that it is at an end does not make it so.

“By removing the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test, along with twice-weekly testing for pupils and staff in schools and colleges, there is a risk that this may actually lead to an increase in disruption if it means that more positive cases come into the classroom. Staff and pupils are often absent not just because they test positive but because they are actually ill with the coronavirus and this will obviously not abate if there is more transmission.

“We are also concerned about where this leaves vulnerable staff and pupils, or those with a household member who is vulnerable. These individuals will inevitably feel more scared and less protected by the relaxation of even the fairly limited control measures that are currently in place.

“The change in the rules to advise rather than require self-isolation also opens the door for conflict with parents who may interpret symptoms that may or may not be coronavirus differently from their child’s teachers.

“Like everyone else, we want to see the back of coronavirus, but this does feel like a headlong rush rather than a sensibly phased approach. The goal must be to keep children in the classroom for as much of the time as possible. This plan does not seem to meet that objective and may in fact be counter-productive.”

NAHT comments on easing of legal requirements surrounding Covid-19 measures

Commenting on the Government’s announcement regarding the easing of legal requirements surrounding Covid-19 measures, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union, NAHT, said:

“There is no doubt that today’s announcement by the Prime Minister has the potential to have an enormous impact on schools. What is absolutely essential now is that government very quickly provides clear and unambiguous guidance so that schools and parents have a clear understanding of what to do should a child or member of staff have covid. Without that clarity, there is a real risk the government could create a chaotic situation in schools and put school leaders in an impossible position. We simply cannot expect schools to manage this on an individual basis, there must be clear guidance from the public health experts.

“It is important that parents remember that schools are only finding out about this today, just as they are. Like parents, they will have a wide range of questions that they need government to answer.  We ask that parents are patient with schools as it will obviously take some time for them to unpick and implement yet another set of changes.

“Judging from what the Prime Minister has said, the Government has replaced the legal responsibility for testing and isolation with a personal responsibility to keep each other safe.

“Schools and families will still need to co-operate to keep schools open. Access to lateral flow tests is an important part of any plan to live with Covid as we move forward. It’s crucial that they remain free for all pupils, or the consequences and disruption for disadvantaged pupils, in particular, could be severe.”

Commenting on the announcement by the Prime Minister of his “Living with Covid” plan, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:

“We have come very far in our fight against Covid. The NHS’s work to deliver the vaccine and booster programmes has made an enormous difference, and we are in a much better place than two years ago. But it is not the case that we have defeated Covid, nor that everyone can ‘live’ with it. The government’s own attendance data for schools shows the high disruption caused by illness and isolation. Whereas Omicron has faded across the population, it is nonetheless a presence in schools.

“We need to know if the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer support the move to end isolation for those who test positive with Covid from Thursday. It is vital that public health, not political considerations, decide that date. We also want to know if the Government is planning any further investment in measures such as improved ventilation.

“Once again an announcement has been made by the Prime Minister without any guidance for schools in place, and on a timescale where assimilation of any forthcoming guidance will rely on it being coherent in the first place. School leaders will not be holding their breath.”

CBI RESPONDS TO UK GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR LIVING WITH THE VIRUS 

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief Policy Director, said  

“After almost two years, the Living with Covid strategy marks a significant step towards normality returning.  

“Firms want this to be a springboard for confidence, providing the certainty they need to invest and grow. But they are also aware that the virus hasn’t disappeared.  

“Living confidently with the virus means prioritising infrastructure over interventions, as the CBI has set out previously. The UK has developed a world-leading vaccine and anti-viral programme, and firms will welcome the government’s continued emphasis on these key pillars. 

“While free testing cannot continue forever, there is a balance to be struck between confidence building and cost-cutting. Mass lateral flow testing has kept our economy open and firms continue to believe the economic benefits far outweigh the costs.  

“The government now needs to add further guidance on issues like sick pay and employer liability to avoid the risk of a legal vacuum. Many firms will continue to be cautious and use extra measures to protect their staff and customers, as they have from the outset.”  

Commenting on the government’s announcement that Covid self-isolation and testing rules will end on Thursday 24 February, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We understand the desire to live with Covid and to return to a semblance of normality after two years of societal and educational upheaval. Our concern is that just by saying that it is at an end does not make it so.

“By removing the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test, along with twice-weekly testing for pupils and staff in schools and colleges, there is a risk that this may actually lead to an increase in disruption if it means that more positive cases come into the classroom. Staff and pupils are often absent not just because they test positive but because they are actually ill with the coronavirus and this will obviously not abate if there is more transmission.

“We are also concerned about where this leaves vulnerable staff and pupils, or those with a household member who is vulnerable. These individuals will inevitably feel more scared and less protected by the relaxation of even the fairly limited control measures that are currently in place.

“The change in the rules to advise rather than require self-isolation also opens the door for conflict with parents who may interpret symptoms that may or may not be coronavirus differently from their child’s teachers.

“Like everyone else, we want to see the back of coronavirus, but this does feel like a headlong rush rather than a sensibly phased approach. The goal must be to keep children in the classroom for as much of the time as possible. This plan does not seem to meet that objective and may in fact be counter-productive.”

TUC slams decision to end ‘day one’ access to sick pay 

• Union body accuses government of leaving the country vulnerable to new variants and pandemics 
• Decision to end free tests is “crazy”, warns TUC 

The TUC has today (Monday) slammed the government’s decision to scrap day one access to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). 

From the end of March workers suffering from coronavirus will have to wait until their fourth day of sickness before they can get SSP.  

The TUC says the decision will hit working people across the economy – with 7.8 million workers relying on SSP when they fall ill. 

The union body is also furious that the government has taken no action to: 

• Properly boost the level of sick pay in Britain which is currently one of the lowest in Europe. 
• Remove the lower earnings threshold for SSP which is currently excluding around two million workers from receiving any sick pay at all. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:   

“Nobody should have to wait till their fourth day of being sick to receive support.  

“The government is creating needless hardship and taking a sledgehammer to public health. 

“The failure to provide decent sick pay to all – from the first day of illness – is reckless and self-defeating.  

“If people can’t afford to stay home when they’re sick, they will take their infections into work. 

“Ministers’ inability to grasp this fact will leave the UK vulnerable to future variants and pandemics.” 

Commenting on the decision to scrap free tests from April 1st, Frances added: 

“Ministers have been warned again and again by unions, businesses and public health experts not to scrap free Covid tests. But they have ignored these pleas. 

“Charging for Covid tests in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is a crazy decision. 

“This will disproportionately affect low-income workers and those on the frontline.” 

Education Unions responded earlier to the ‘Living with Covid’ Plan

Unite national officer Jim Kennedy said:

“Once again the Prime Minister is disregarding working people’s and the public’s health – this time school staff, children and their families – through reckless measures meant only to please his back benchers. 

“Unite calls on Boris Johnson to ensure that the safety of children, parents and staff are prioritised ahead of his own narrow political interests.”  

GMB national officer Avril Chambers said:

“You have to question the motive behind this reckless decision. We suspect it’s yet another decision taken by this Prime Minister out of self-interest rather than for the good of the country.   

“Support staff have kept our schools open throughout the pandemic. They deserve to stay safe, and our children deserve not to have their education interrupted any more than it already has been.   

“The Prime Minister needs to act responsibly. He must leave free tests and isolation requirements in place until there is scientific evidence that they no longer serve a purpose.”  

UNISON head of education Mike Short said:

“Protection and safety are what’s needed, but there’s only confusion on offer from the government. Parents and staff are desperate for a return to normality – but not at any cost.  

“The Prime Minister appears to care more about keeping in with his backbenchers than he does about the health of the nation. 

“Rather than throw caution to the wind and jeopardise the education of children who’ve lost so much, it’s time to show leadership, put aside self-interest and err on the side of caution.”   

More to follow….