When schools in Northern Ireland do shut in response to coronavirus, they will close for at least 16 weeks, first minister Arlene Foster has said.

Following a meeting with Republic of Ireland’s caretaker Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ms Foster said that schools would not close immediately in the strategy to tackle Covid-19, but were expected to close at some point. 

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Speaking after the meeting, Ms Foster said that schools will close “when we are advised on the medical evidence”.

“Children will be at home for quite a considerable period of time, given that when we do close the schools they will be closed for at least 16 weeks.

“Then, of course, you are into the summer period, so they will be off school for a very long time.”

Earlier this week, Mr Varadkar announced that all schools, colleges and other public facilities in the Republic of Ireland would be closed from 29 March. 

The government is yet to confirm whether or not schools in England will follow suit. According to The Mirror, the government is set to announce that schools will be closed to all for a few weeks, but will stay open for children of key workers, with a skeleton staff providing childcare. 

On Sophy Ridge on Sunday, health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that an announcement on the next phase of plans would happen on Tuesday.