First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that Scotland’s schools and nurseries are set to close from Friday in response to the coronavirus epidemic.
She said that School closures were ‘inevitable by the end of this week’ and may not re-open before the summer holidays.
Sturgeon said the decision was driven by two key factors, She said “Science and secondly schools are reaching the point where they have lost too many staff to continue.
Speaking this afternoon, she said: “My view is that is it inevitable that we will close schools and nurseries. And my planning and assumption is that schools will close at the end of this week and I wanted today to give parents notice of that now.
“There are two key drivers of that view, first is the science. Our scientific advisers are examining new advice as we speak, I expect that is likely to tell us to close schools.
“Secondly we have the reality on the ground. If people do the right thing and follow the advice to self-isolate or to isolate as a household, more and more schools are approaching the point where they have lost too many staff to continue as normal.
“We are working closely with schools and tomorrow the Deputy First Minister will set out in a statement to Parliament, the arrangements we are putting in place.
“In particular, he will address key questions that I know parents, pupils and teachers will have including what this will mean for vulnerable pupils – those receiving free school meals – because we must not cut adrift vulnerable children.
“Secondly what this means for pupils taking their exams this year, because we will not blight the life chances of our children.”