THE Tory government’s last-minute plans to remove most pandemic counter measures in schools when Covid-19 cases are rapidly rising is “nothing short of reckless,” teaching unions warned yesterday. 

The Department for Education’s “living with Covid” plan, which comes into effect across England today despite schools only being given 24 hours’ notice, will see regular free testing for pupils end immediately. 

Anyone infected aged 18 and under will also only now be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for three days, as opposed to five days for the rest of the population.