The leader of Anglesey’s opposition group believes that schools should remain closed on Anglesey until September, as the island gets to grips with a Covid-19 outbreak.

Last week, the authority announced that schools would not reopen as planned on June 29 following a flurry of positive tests centred around the 2 Sisters poultry processing plant in Llangefni.

Anglesey Council says no final decision has yet been made on whether schools will reopen at all before the summer holidays, which in neighbouring Gwynedd’s case will remain open for only three weeks before breaking up on July 17.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the leader of the main opposition group backed the authority’s decision but suggested that the island’s schools should be formally shut until the new school year in September.

Cllr Bryan Owen, a former leader of the council and current member of the Annibynnwyr Môn group, said: “As an opposition, we have been supportive of the ruling group throughout the crisis as they have  enough of a challenge on their hands in tackling this crisis, which is something that’s new to all of us.

“There will be a time to look back on how things went and if there are ways we can react better in future, but now we need to work together and get through these difficult times and come out the other end.”

On the decision to close the island’s schools, he said: “In my view, it was the right decision to close schools and really we should be looking at concentrating our efforts in opening back up in September.

“There was only going to be a three-week window so, in the best interests of keeping everyone safe, it would be best to ensure that the children of key workers have somewhere to go and that some of the most vulnerable are being fed, as they have been.

“But I don’t think anyone knows the exact formula to get through this crisis as it’s new to all of us. We’re all going in blind to a large degree.

“I can only pay tribute to everyone across the island for their efforts so far, be they on an administrative level or those on the coal face.”

Announcing the decision not to open schools as planned on June 29, council leader Llinos Medi said the health and safety of children, staff and communities “must come first”.

Pointing to the positive cases at 2 Sisters creating a “great deal of uncertainty and concern on the island”, she added: “It is, of course, possible that we could see an increase in community transmission of the virus. I am not, at present, willing to see classrooms reopened to Anglesey children.

“Given the current uncertainty, I believe that this is the right course of action, and the best decision in respect of the safety of our children, all school staff and wider communities.”

Cllr Medi also emphasised her immense gratitude to all school staff across the county for their continued hard work.