Boris Johnson: Supermarket delivery drivers are now “critical workers”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that all schools will close from Friday afternoon however children of critical workers including NHS workers, police officers and supermarket delivery drivers will still be looked after by schools and nurseries.

Boris Johnson said: “We need other critical workers with children to keep doing their jobs too – from police officers who are keeping us safe to the supermarket delivery drivers, social care workers who look after the elderly and who are so vital. We will be setting out more details shortly about who we mean in these groups.

“So we therefore need schools to make provision for the children of these key workers who would otherwise be forced to stay home. And they will also need to look after the most vulnerable children.

“This will mean there will of course be are far fewer children in schools and that will help us to slow the spread of the disease. And these measures are crucial to make sure the critical parts of the economy keep functioning and public services keep functioning.

So we are simultaneously asking nurseries and private schools to do the same, and we are providing financial support where it is needed. “