A residents’ action group toured Harlow in a motorcade calling for schools to remain closed ‘until they are safe to reopen’.

The Harlow Coronavirus People Before Profit Action Group is opposed to pupils – beginning with Year 1, 2 and 6 – returning to school from June 1.

On Monday, May 25 the group drove cars adorned with posters opposing the planned re-opening to Harlow schools, chanting slogans such as “no going back to school until it's safe”, “keep our children safe”, and “keep teachers and other staff safe”

Harlow resident John Wake, speaking on behalf of the action group, said: “We know that teachers, support staff, and parents across Harlow are very worried about the safety of even a partial reopening of local schools.

“They are right to be worried. There are still about 61,000 new COVID-19 infections per week in England, according to the Office for National Statistics. It is true that the number of people dying every day from this disease has declined, but it is still in the hundreds, whereas it was in single figures when the lockdown was introduced on March 23.”

Former Labour parliamentary candidate for Harlow, Laura McAlpine, added: “It is important for children to return to school, but only when it is safe to do so. The government’s advice on the reopening of schools has been chaotic and has caused confusion and anxiety amongst parents, staff, and children.

“Although my child is not yet old enough to attend school, I fully support parents with children of school age who think that even a partial re-opening of schools is premature. It would not be feasible to maintain social distancing at two metres apart in a classroom of four and five year olds.

“The reopening of any classes at this time risks the health of the staff, the children, their families, and the health of the community in general. I believe in social solidarity, which is why I stand with the concerned parents and the teaching unions on this issue.”

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