Schools to remain shut for at least another four weeks as Sturgeon extends lockdown

Scottish schools will remain shut until at least mid-February as a national lockdown was extended despite evidence suggesting the second wave of coronavirus had already peaked.

Nicola Sturgeon said a strict stay-at-home order would also remain in force until the middle of next month at the earliest and admitted there were no guarantees about when harsh restrictions would be eased.

Classrooms might then reopen on a “phased” basis, the First Minister said, meaning they would potentially open their doors to younger children first, or only in parts of the country with lower coronavirus rates.

However, the decision means most pupils will not return to classes for at least another four weeks, leaving many working parents to juggle home-schooling with their jobs.

Schools across Scotland did not reopen after the Christmas holidays, with ministers citing uncertainty over how the new variant of Covid-19 would spread among children.

Opposition parties urged Ms Sturgeon to speed up the rollout of vaccines, with the Scottish programme lagging behind other parts of the UK, so that schools could safely reopen.

“Our reluctant judgment at this stage is that community transmission of the virus is too high - and is likely to remain so for the next period - to allow a safe return to school on 1 February,” Ms Sturgeon said.

Watch: Nicola Sturgeon - Lockdown measures extended until mid-February in Scotland

“If it is at all possible, as I very much hope it will be, to begin even a phased return to in-school learning in mid-February, we will do that.

“But I also have to be straight with families and say that it is simply too early to be sure about whether and to what extent this will be possible.”

On Tuesday there were 1,165 new cases reported, with almost 2,000 people in Scottish hospitals with Covid-19, and a further 71 deaths registered.

In an update to Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said that case numbers have “stabalised and even declined” over recent days but warned a relaxation of lockdown could "quickly send the situation into reverse".

A national stay at home order in Scotland came into force on January 5, after the whole of the Scottish mainland went into a level four lockdown on Boxing Day.

All non-essential shops, pubs, cafes, bars, gyms and hairdressers are closed and travel restrictions prevent anyone leaving their local authority area, with limited exceptions.

It was initially hoped that the rules would remain in place only for this month. The next review of the restrictions will come on February 2, when a decision will be over over whether or not they can be eased from mid-February.

Business groups said the extension of the lockdown had come as a “heavy blow” with many firms already struggling to survive now facing further uncertainty.

Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “We cannot emphasise enough the importance of increasing the pace of distributing business support grants; this must be accelerated in order to prevent the significant collapse of businesses and jobs.

“We also call on the Scottish Government to use the Scottish Budget next week to outline measures to help restore much needed confidence and investment.”

She added: “We also urge the UK Government to seriously consider the clear need to extend the furlough scheme beyond April 2021 and outline further initiatives to protect business and jobs at the UK Budget in March.’’

Schools have remained open to some vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers.

However, the Scottish Government faced demands to reopen all special schools to help children with complex physical and mental needs.

Sophie Pilgrim, the director of Kindred - a charity for children with special needs - expressed concern about the "degenerating" physical and mental health because of school closures.

She said: "Special schools have a vital role to play, providing respite from care for parents, as well as therapy, education and social engagement for our most vulnerable children.

"Without these reopening we will pay a heavy price as a society. We would urge that Scotland follows the lead shown by England, Wales and Northern Ireland and we re-open our special schools to full time placements for those who want to return."

Watch: What you cand and can't do during England's third national lockdown