Ministers have defended the decision to keep the schools open until tomorrow.

Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson said he had made it clear to anxious parents that their children’s attendance at school today was not mandatory.

But at 11.50pm on Monday the government posted on its Facebook page that schools and University College IoM would be open as normal.

Dr Allinson told reporters at this morning’s briefing: ’We need time to prepare, that’s what today is about.’

Schools will close from tomorrow morning for the majority of children.

Online learning will restart and schools will only be open to vulnerable children and those of essential workers.

Dr Allinson said parents needed to have the confidence that their child will be looked and their education will continue.

He said: ’It’s very important to get this in perspective.

’Yes, we do have a small number of cases in the community but we can react to this in an organised way to make sure that we don’t panic.’

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said it was important to give notice of the schools being closed.

’We’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t,’ he said.

’Our young people need to go into school to get their IT equipment so they can work from home and parents might have businesses they need to put in order.’