Greater Manchester parents react after Boris Johnson says primary schools are safe ahead of reopening

direct to your inboxThe NHS has sadly confirmed the deaths of 29 more patients in hospitals in Greater Manchester who had tested positive for Covid-19.The region's hospital death toll now stands at 4,757.NHS bosses said on Friday a further 993 people who tested positive for the virus have died in hospitals across England.It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 65,104.In the north west, a further 94 hospital deaths were reported, the NHS said on Friday.A

direct to your inboxBoris Johnson today said the government will keep Greater Manchester's flood defences under review after the River Mersey came 'very close' to flooding. The Prime Minister visited south Manchester this morning after Storm Christoph raged through the region and the canal almost breached its banks.

direct to your inboxA further 23 people have died in Greater Manchester's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus.It means the region's hospital death toll has now reached 4,583, the latest NHS data shows.In the last 24 hours seven more deaths were recorded at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, while another five people died at both Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester

direct to your inboxThirty-five more people have died Greater Manchester's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus.The region's hospital death toll has now reached 4,560, the latest NHS data shows.Sixteen more deaths were recorded at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; the organisation in charge of the Manchester Royal Infirmary and Wythenshawe Hospital.Meanwhile, six more deaths were recorded at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, five at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and three at

straight to your inbox every day for freeMarcus Rashford has admitted he would have loved to have played under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. In a wide-ranging interview with the FWA, Rashford has spoken about his career on the pitch with United as well as work done off the pitch in the past 12 months.

direct to your inboxA further 21 people have died in Greater Manchester's hospitals after contracting coronavirus.The region's hospital death toll has risen to 4,525, the latest NHS figures show.Ten people died after testing positive for the virus at Stepping Hill Hospital, which is run by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust recorded five deaths each.One more coronavirus-related death was recorded at Salford

straight to your inbox every day for freeWayne Rooney has heaped praise on Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford for challenging the government on a number of key issues over the past year.Rashford successfully campaigned for the government to continue the free school meals scheme last year and held the government accountable again this week after images of the shocking packages vulnerable families had received went viral on social media.Prime Minister Boris Johnson branded the food packages

straight to your inbox every day for freeMarcus Rashford has held an "assuring" conversation with Boris Johnson after images emerged of inadequate food parcels on social media. The Manchester United striker has been heavily involved in campaigning against child hunger in the UK and revealed that the Prime Minister had promised a "full review" on the situation.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has urged the government to extend its ban on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic to avoid a further surge in homelessness.Court-ordered evictions are due to start again on January 11 after being temporarily suspended after the initial Covid-19 outbreak.Boris Johnson says the ban will be kept under review after being challenged by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during a debate this week.But Mr Burnham is seeking a cast-iron

Greater Manchester hospitals could face a surge in patients in the coming fortnight.The number of coronavirus patients in UK hospitals is now over 30,000 and today a further 1,041 Covid-19 deaths were announced - the highest daily total since April.Boris Johnson today proposed legislation that will allow England's third national lockdown to run until March 31 but he warned that the restrictions are unlikely to be lifted wholesale and that there will be an easing back into local tiers if

direct to your inboxThe coronavirus vaccination programme is underway in Greater Manchester.A number of vaccine centres offering the Pfizer jab opened before Christmas.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised that 1,000 vaccination sites will go 'live' across the country by Friday. Meanwhile, the Etihad Tennis and Football Centre has been confirmed by the Govenment as one of seven 'super-vaccination' centres due to open next week.

direct to your inboxA Manchester MP has highlighted to the Prime Minister the plight of an unemployed constituent living during the Covid-19 pandemic on just £8 a month.Speaking in the Commons as Parliament was recalled today to vote on regulations enforcing the country's latest coronavirus restrictions, Jeff Smith told Boris Johnson of 'Ross', who he said lost his job during the first national coronavirus lockdown in March.The Withington MP said his constituent was one of many who have 'fallen

direct to your inboxThousands of students across Greater Manchester face being asked to pay rent despite being told not return to their accommodation.Fees of as much as £3,000 are due in the coming weeks for the spring term.But last night the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a national lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus that will last until at least mid-February.

Just before Boris Johnson announced the new national lockdown on Monday, Olivia Attwood managed to squeeze in a spot of retail therapy before having to be stuck indoors.The reality star, who looked uncrecognisable without lip fillers in a throwback snap, was spotted in Manchester city centre on Saturday afternoon.The 29 year old wore a grey tracksuit hoodie and pants for the outing and wore a protective face mask on her chin as she engaged in a phone call.

Prime Minister announced last night that all schools and colleges will close to the vast majority of pupils from today as learning goes online due to England's new national lockdown.

Sign up to the M.E.N.'s Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kidsThe BBC has said it will ensure all children can access curriculum-based learning, even if they don’t have access to the internet.It comes as millions of parents began remote learning with their children on Tuesday (January 5) after a third national lockdown was announced by Boris Johnson.The new measures include the closure of schools except to vulnerable and key worker

straight to your inbox every day for freeMarcus Rashford has welcomed the news that pupils entitled to free school meals will still get them while schools are closed.The Manchester United footballer described the decision as “progress” and said the provision of meals for hungry children “should never be in question”.His comments come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all primaries, secondaries and colleges in England would close as part of a national lockdown.Free school meals

direct to your inboxPrime Minister Boris Johnson has said parents should send children back to primary school tomorrow 'in areas where schools are open'.His comments come as pressure mounts on the government to keep schools closed amid concerns over rates of coronavirus transmission.The National Education Union (NEU), the UK's largest teaching union, told its members that it is unsafe for them to go back to work on Monday.

direct to your inboxWhen the new term starts next week for primary schools, headteacher Ruth Vayro knows some parents will keep their children at home."Our families do trust us at St Ambrose to keep children safe but I'm sure some parents will take the decision not to return their children to school because they just don't know."Parents will be concerned just as they are in London and Greater London."I completely empathise with parents - I'm a parent.

coronavirus infection rates increasing in all regions, along with the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals, any changes are likely to involve areas moving up a tier rather than down.In Greater Manchester, infection rates are continuing to rise in nine out of the ten boroughs.A decision was understood to be made at a meeting of the Government’s Covid-19 Operations committee on Tuesday evening, which was chaired by Boris Johnson.Pressure has been mounting on ministers to expand Tier 4