Friday, the British government decided to close all primary schools in London for the next two weeks to counter the rapid spread of a more contagious strain of coronavirus.

Wednesday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson unveiled a plan to delay the reopening of secondary schools and to open most elementary schools for children under the age of 11 by the end of the Christmas holidays. Around one million primary school pupils in some of the areas hardest hit by the virus, will not return to school as planned next week.

According to the plan, it was decided to close primary schools only in the most affected areas of the country, including some parts of London.

Several London borough officials inquired about Williamson’s decision and asked him to reverse it because it is “not supported by the evidence.”

London council leaders have criticized the list of areas where London primary schools will remain shut, which was released by the government. They seek clarification from Westminster as to why some schools in some boroughs with no relevant pattern will stay open while neighbouring schools shut.

“The Government have finally seen sense and u-turned,"said the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Twitter. "All primary schools across London will be treated the same.

However, he was “urgently seeking clarification" from the government as to why some boroughs with high coronavirus rates have not been asked to keep primary schools closed.

He called the decision “nonsensical” and “shambolic”.

“This is not the way to run schools in our city and our country, and it’s another example of the chaotic and shambolic way that the Government has dealt with this pandemic – it is outrageous,” he said.