TEENAGE KITS
Covid testing for ALL secondary school kids in worst-hit parts of London, Kent & Essex even if they don’t have symptoms
THOUSANDS of teen schoolkids will get Covid tests amid fears they are fuelling a devastating third wave.
Emergency testing teams will be sent to secondary schools across the South East to swab pupils and their families.
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The blitz comes as London faces being plunged into severe Tier 3 restrictions next week unless soaring infection rates are rapidly reduced.
The drastic move would force pubs and restaurants to close again before Christmas — and wreck New Year plans for millions of people.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday vowed to keep England’s schools open. But Wales has ordered all their secondary schools to close from Monday and for teachers to switch to online lessons.
The average number of Covid cases in the capital has now hit 191 per 100,000 — the same as Birmingham where Tier 3 restrictions are already in place. Essex is close behind on 185 per 100,000.
The worst areas of London are in North East boroughs such as Havering, where cases per 100,000 have rocketed to 380.
Waltham Forest is close behind on 321.
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Mobile testing teams will be sent to the seven worst-hit boroughs in London and parts of Essex and Kent.
Teens and their parents are all being urged to get tested, even if they do not have symptoms.
The crackdown came as Covid deaths in Britain rose by 516. A total of 63,082 people have now died.
There were also 20,964 infections recorded yesterday, the largest daily rise in three weeks, bringing the total to 1,787,783.
Mr Hancock told a Downing Street press conference: “The fall in the number of cases has flattened off and is rising in some parts of the country, like Kent and Essex and some parts of London.
“This shows us that this fight is not over and how we must all play our part and stay on our guard now and through Christmas.
“We’ve got help on the horizon and we can all see that with the vaccine, so don’t blow it now.”
And he warned rising infections among teens could swiftly spread to older, more vulnerable people as families form festive bubbles when rules are relaxed at Christmas.
Mr Hancock said: “We have seen that happen before.
“So we need to do everything we can to stop the spread among school age children in London right now."
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said he was very “concerned” at the rocketing rates and urged the nation to be “very, very sensible” to avoid spreading the killer bug. He said: “A third wave is not inevitable.
Tier 3 rules:
In Tier 3:
- you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues
- you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
- hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.
- accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training
- indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:
- indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play
- casinos
- bingo halls
- bowling alleys
- skating rinks
- amusement arcades and adult gaming centres
- laser quests and escape rooms
- cinemas, theatres and concert halls
- snooker halls
- indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:
- zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves
- aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions
- model villages
- museums, galleries and sculpture parks
- botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses
- theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs
- visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes
- landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms
- leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead.
- there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators
- large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events
- places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies
- and can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
- organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place
- organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s
- you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
- avoid travelling outside of your area, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey
- for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for your destination and the
“But the way we prevent it is everybody, all of us, coming together and deciding we want to try to stick to the guidance that’s there.
“And accept that Christmas is a period when we can do things, that’s the reason why the rules are being relaxed, but that doesn’t mean we should do things.
“People should really be very, very sensible over that period and over this whole period of risk because this is a very risky period for us.”
Teaching unions have called for schools to close a week early.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We really do hope that this is not another sign of the Government in Westminster ploughing ahead with its insistence that schools should remain fully open in England come what may.”
London could be put into Tier 3 next Saturday, with no review until January 2. One MP briefed by ministers and officials said: “London is almost certainly going to Tier 3.”
Where are the highest infection rates and what tier are they in?
- Swale (619.7 case per 100,000): Tier 3
- Basildon (433.8): Tier 2
- Gravesham (423.6): Tier 3
- Thanet (419.9): Tier 3
- Maidstone (409.1): Tier 3
- Lincoln (391.7): Tier 3
- Boston (387.6): Tier 3
- Havering (378.7): Tier 2
- Dover (371.6): Tier 3
- Canterbury (323.5): Tier 3
- Stoke-on-Trent (321.8): Tier 3
- Waltham Forest (316.6): Tier 2
- Barking and Dagenham (310.9): Tier 2
- Oadby and Wigston (301.7): Tier 3
- Redbridge (299.1): Tier 2
- Folkestone and Hythe (299.1): Tier 3
- Dartford (291.3): Tier 3
- Luton (290.1): Tier 2
- Pendle (286.6): Tier 3
- Runnymede (284.0): Tier 2
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Another said: “It felt like it was virtually a done deal.”
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Former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers said: “I am urging ministers not to put London in Tier 3. That would be so tough on struggling pubs and restaurants. Let’s allow people to have drinks in the pub with their friends again.”
British Beer & Pub Association chief Emma McClarkin warned: “Going into Tier 3 would completely destroy pubs. It would be so cruel on hardworking publicans doing all they can to support their communities. Especially as the Government’s own evidence shows pubs are safe.”
Sadiq Khan warns Londoners with capital at risk of Tier 3 restrictions