Boris Johnson Denies Government's Failure to Prepare for School Closures During COVID-19 Pandemic

Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, appeared before the U.K. Covid-19 Inquiry and denied that his government failed to properly prepare for school closures during the pandemic. Johnson apologized for government mistakes, stating that officials were overwhelmed by the rapid spread of the virus, but he claimed that his Education Department was considering school closings. Johnson's testimony was met with skepticism, as his Education Secretary had previously testified that they were given only one night to develop a plan to close schools in March 2020.

Key Takeaways:

• Boris Johnson testified that his Education Department was considering school closures, contradicting his Education Secretary's previous testimony that they were given only one night to develop a plan.
• Johnson denied an "extraordinary dereliction of duty" in not planning earlier for school closures, stating that everyone understood school closures was a necessary tool to combat the pandemic.
• Johnson apologized for government mistakes, taking responsibility for the response and acknowledging that children paid a huge price to protect the rest of society.
• Save the Children UK's Dan Paskins stated that the rushed decisions damaged a generation of children, and "no amount of regret will undo the harm that has been done."
• The U.K. Covid-19 Inquiry is expected to run through 2027, with a current focus on children and the government's response to the pandemic.

Statistics:

• 2027: The expected completion year of the U.K. Covid-19 Inquiry.
• 2020: The year the Education Secretary testified that they were given only one night to develop a plan to close schools.
• Thousands: The number of unnecessary deaths in Britain attributed to Boris Johnson's actions, according to bereaved families.
• 24 hours: The abrupt time period when the Education Secretary went from trying to keep schools open to announcing that they would close.

Sources:

• "Boris Johnson denies government's failure to prepare for school closures during COVID-19 pandemic" by New Delhi Times (October 23, 2022).