Johnson had repeatedly refused to consider closing schools in England following the first national lockdown last spring, with the Education SecretaryHowever, secondary schools across the UK now all remain closed until at least the middle of January with primary schools in London and other parts of south-east England also shut following a series of U-turns by Johnson's government.
Teachers across the country have been advised by the National Education Union not to attend schools due to the "serious and imminent danger" to their health caused by the virus.by the UK government's scientific advisory committee last week warning that schools would need to close in order to bring the virus under control, mean any attempt to force schools to open would be a breach of UK work safety regulations.
The surge in cases means more areas of England will likely be placed in the highest tier of restrictions, which prevent household mixing.