Coronavirus Northern Ireland: School closures announced in Northern Ireland
Schools in Northern Ireland will close from Monday 23 March, Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster has said.
The news comes after the UK and Northern Ireland have come under increasing pressure to close schools, as worried parents locally shared their concerns on social media.
Speaking at a press conference this evening, Arlene Foster, flanked by Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, said now was “the right time to close schools”.
“We have agreed that all schools will close to pupils from Monday 23 March,” Foster said.
“The societal and economic impact of this measure will be enormous as parents have to adjust their routine to deal with this unplanned long-term closure.”
It was, she added, a time of unprecedented challenge.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said it was a time for us all to reach out, to reassure and support one another.
“We need to come together like we have never done before,” she stated. “We will,” she continued, “do everything in our power to protect our society”.
Earlier today, it was announced that schools in Scotland and Wales are to close from Friday in response to the coronavirus crisis.
Schools in England will close on Friday.
Keep up to date with all the latest Northern Ireland Coronavirus / Covid-19 news HERE
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