Greater Manchester MP demands mass Covid-19 testing in schools to keep classrooms open during winter

heading for tier 3 restrictions when lockdown ends next week, pupils are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region. We reported at the weekend how many feel schools are 'descending into chaos' and concerns are growing over Year 11s being expected to sit exams next year despite missing out on large chunks of classroom learning time.

where he outlined the rationale behind each of the three revised tiers.The tougher system, which which will see harsher measures taken against the hospitality industry, will come into force on December 2.Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he wasn't surprised to see the region placed into Tier 3, due to a rate of infection standing higher than the current national average.

government announcing this morning that Manchester will be placed in Tier 3 when national lockdown ends on December 2, the mayor says the 'halfway house approach' taken to lockdown is partly to blame.Reacting to the news that the region now faces the toughest measures for at least another fortnight, he told the Manchester Evening News: "It was a personal view and maybe not everybody's view, but I think schools should have been included in the national circuit break, because actually it would

Manchester Evening News has seen an early internal planning document circulated within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

revised tier system, which will come into force on December 2 when the national lockdown ends, government ministers will impose the top level of restrictions on the highest risk areas.Previously, ministers had entered into discussions with local leaders over the what measures would be needed and how they would be funded.In Greater Manchester, mayor Andy Burnham led several days of intense talks as he tried to negotiate a more substantial financial package than the one the government had

reported yesterday how leaders of Focus Trust were under pressure from the government to reverse their plan to shut a week earlier than planned.They had announced last week that all 15 of their schools - seven of which are in Greater Manchester - would close on December 11, instead of the original planned date of December 18.The decision came amid growing concerns over the number of families that could be forced to isolate over the festive period because of positive cases in the run-up to the

schools in Greater Manchester 'descending into chaos', bubbles of schoolchildren are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region. Staff shortages are having a huge impact - with teachers either being confirmed with the virus themselves, identified as a close contact, or having to stay home because their own children are isolating from schools.

Heywood - were also full. During the first lockdown play areas were one of many things forced to close as the Government tried to stop the spread of Covid-19.But this time around they've been allowed to stay open.

the north is being forgotten because schools in the south aren't being affected by the virus in the same way.

criminal offences  with M.E.N. reporters there to cover the most serious.

The schools closing a week early include:Focus Trust’s chief executive Helen Rowland said: “We recognise the short notice may be an issue for some families but we hope that by taking the proactive and practical approach of extending the break, we can ensure that no one is forced to self-isolate over the holiday because of someone they have come into contact with at school.“The time will be made up later in the school year when it is safe and practical to do so and families will be informed of

impact closures are having on pupils in the north, bubbles of schoolchildren are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region.

warning parents to expect 'major disruption' in the weeks ahead, bubbles of pupils are continuing to be sent home to isolate on a daily basis. Today's confirmed cases include the closure of one primary school to all year groups.

coronavirus patients have died in the second wave of the pandemic in Greater Manchester, the MEN can reveal.

Manchester Evening News, we have pledged to pay tribute to the special people who have died with this terrible disease.This week, more families have been in touch with tributes for loved ones.Here are some of their stories.If you want to pay tribute to a loved one, fill out the form here.Brenda was born in Rusholme and moved to Wythenshawe in 1973.She was wife to Derek, mum to Mark and Dawn and sister to Bernadette.Brenda moved into a care home in February 2019.She died aged 87 at Wythenshawe

hereAcross the North West, a further 54 hospital deaths were reported.A further 10 deaths were recorded at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, five at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and five at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.There have also been three further deaths at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust compared to figures released on Thursday.Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust also recorded another three cases.Every day the NHS in England gives an

1,800 mile Bee Network - Olympian Chris Boardman's ambitious plan for a £1.5bn transformation of our roads to allow cycling and walking to flourish. So far, the region has £200m to spend on the scheme through a combination of government funding and council contributions.

warning parents to expect 'major disruption' in the weeks ahead, bubbles of pupils are continuing to be sent home to isolate on a daily basis. In the first half of the autumn term the number of schools affected by the virus reached more than 580.

on their Facebook pages today, both sites wrote: "Sadly, Music Venue Trust have selected our venue as one of the 30 grassroots music venues most at risk of permanent closure in the UK. "MVT have checked all the available funding, financial support, furlough schemes, business support for these venues, and what is on offer is not enough to prevent the threat that our venue could be permanently closed as a result of this crisis.