Coronavirus (Non-Politics)

[Holy Joe]

Schools need to get back as soon as possible, closing them IMO has more drawbacks than benefits. Yes it will lessen the spread but it will also.

• Disrupt childrens learning
• Impact on their social interactions with their peers
• Lead to mental health issues
• Hugely affect parents who have to work and will now be expected to home school primary children as well. This is not possible
• Stop key workers being able to go to work due to childcare issues.

I'm talking from personal experience here. I have no idea how we'll cope this time around as January is our buisiest time at work and will be expected to work 10+ hours a day to hit deadlines. It is unworkable

Key workers kids are still able to attend school.

Agree with the other points - it's a fine balancing act tbh not sure where the line should be drawn

 

[Holy Joe]

As GNH posts above, the youngsters need school.
And from my observations they mix, socially, very often in close groups anyway out of school?
The main group protected by closing schools is the teachers.

Protects parents as well - the Mrs and I have both been working from home and get most things delivered - the main risk for us is kids bringing virus home.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Protects parents as well - the Mrs and I have both been working from home and get most things delivered - the main risk for us is kids bringing virus home.

How does that work with the kids associations over the perk or, as reported in Echo, outside MaccyDs?
In my experience those that behave will do the space, face, wash and those that don't wont, at school or out..

 

[OldBlueLady]

I've got many teacher friends, some of whom work in specialist units for vulnerable children, many of which are remaining open regardless. They're getting little or no help from the authorities, and obviously many of these children are the type who will spit and stuff and the teachers are justifiably angry at being hung out to dry.

 

[Tinks]

I've got many teacher friends, some of whom work in specialist units for vulnerable children, many of which are remaining open regardless. They're getting little or no help from the authorities, and obviously many of these children are the type who will spit and stuff and the teachers are justifiably angry at being hung out to dry.

That is terrible -surely the LA have some kind of responsibly to protect their workforce? Although from what I heard today I shouldn’t be surprised. Heard that some managers from the council (I won’t say which one) have been given the COVID vaccine in front of health and care workers and key workers who are front line. These “managers” are backroom staff with some even working from home.
I heard there were some vaccines left that needed to be used so they called in the managers to get inoculated rather than frontline.

 

[Holy Joe]

How does that work with the kids associations over the perk or, as reported in Echo, outside MaccyDs?
In my experience those that behave will do the space, face, wash and those that don't wont, at school or out..

I think that is a small minority of kids - and ultimately its the parents to blame. As you say they wouldn't be following rules regardless if schools were open or closed - perhaps if schools were open they wouldn't even bother attending.

 

[OldBlueLady]

That is terrible -surely the LA have some kind of responsibly to protect their workforce? Although from what I heard today I shouldn’t be surprised. Heard that some managers from the council (I won’t say which one) have been given the COVID vaccine in front of health and care workers and key workers who are front line. These “managers” are backroom staff with some even working from home.
I heard there were some vaccines left that needed to be used so they called in the managers to get inoculated rather than frontline.

You'd have thought wouldn't you? Yes, I'd heard about managers being given the vaccination - though I thought it was hospital managers rather than council?

 

[Member]

This thread is a good summary of a study into the new variant. It’s very concerning, and I expect we may see prolonged school closures and potentially a national lockdown similar to March

https://twitter.com/x/status/1344774555718590464

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

What’s also concerning is that we won’t see the effect of Christmas and NYE for a few weeks yet, where kids and grandparents and family members would’ve mixed despite all the advice not to. I can’t see why schools can’t be closed til the end of Jan whilst we put all the national effort and resource into vaccinating as many people as possible, including teachers, LSA’s, bus drivers, shop workers, factory workers etc. It’s madness sending kids to school with this running riot.

 

[Holy Joe]

What’s also concerning is that we won’t see the effect of Christmas and NYE for a few weeks yet, where kids and grandparents and family members would’ve mixed despite all the advice not to. I can’t see why schools can’t be closed til the end of Jan whilst we put all the national effort and resource into vaccinating as many people as possible, including teachers, LSA’s, bus drivers, shop workers, factory workers etc. It’s madness sending kids to school with this running riot.

The idea for secondary schools is that the kids and staff will be regularly tested once they return - I think each school will get half a soldier to assist. I guess this should reduce the risk of transmission from asymptomatic people

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

The idea for secondary schools is that the kids and staff will be regularly tested once they return - I think each school will get half a soldier to assist. I guess this should reduce the risk of transmission from asymptomatic people

Trouble is, teachers have to teach and don’t have time to do daily testing on top of that. For the sake of a month why not use the army to set up a mass vaccination programme and keep kids and staff off, thus breaking contact. Sorry but I have little faith after the shambles of track & trace!

 

[Holy Joe]

Trouble is, teachers have to teach and don’t have time to do daily testing on top of that. For the sake of a month why not use the army to set up a mass vaccination programme and keep kids and staff off, thus breaking contact. Sorry but I have little faith after the shambles of track & trace!

I'm not sure where the bottleneck with vaccines is? Is it lack of staff to administer or lack of actual vaccine? If the former then I'd agree. I'd also agree that the regular (not sure it will be daily) testing in schools is an unknown in terms of if it will help.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

What’s also concerning is that we won’t see the effect of Christmas and NYE for a few weeks yet, where kids and grandparents and family members would’ve mixed despite all the advice not to. I can’t see why schools can’t be closed til the end of Jan whilst we put all the national effort and resource into vaccinating as many people as possible, including teachers, LSA’s, bus drivers, shop workers, factory workers etc. It’s madness sending kids to school with this running riot.

They would love to close schools till the end of Jan, if that was the only concern. Sadly, those most impacted by home or remote learning are also those most impacted by being at home longer (more or less). I think we will get longer with the kids in January - just spare a thought for those kids unlucky enough to not go home to you.

 

[Ricey]

My eldest two were sent home over two weeks before the Christmas break. If they don’t go back to the 18th then that will be nearly 7 weeks of not being in school. It’s a pain for us with us both working and relying on them going to school. The schools just aren’t setting the work for them, some teachers have been missing lessons on Zoom! They’ve asked us if we are critical workers and as we both are all 4 of ours will be allowed back on Tuesday.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

They would love to close schools till the end of Jan, if that was the only concern. Sadly, those most impacted by home or remote learning are also those most impacted by being at home longer (more or less). I think we will get longer with the kids in January - just spare a thought for those kids unlucky enough to not go home to you.

I know there’s pros and cons and different angles. My point of view is maybe biased by the fact I’m a homeworker and I know it’s not as easy for others to simply keep their kids at home (and some simply are better off in school for numerous reasons). There’s no simple solution but to me, the sooner the vaccine gets out there and to all age groups, the sooner we can resume some sort of “normal” life and keep everyone safe. I really feel for teachers through all this.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I know there’s pros and cons and different angles. My point of view is maybe biased by the fact I’m a homeworker and I know it’s not as easy for others to simply keep their kids at home (and some simply are better off in school for numerous reasons). There’s no simple solution but to me, the sooner the vaccine gets out there and to all age groups, the sooner we can resume some sort of “normal” life and keep everyone safe. I really feel for teachers through all this.

Absolutely, as a senior civil servant I can absolutely agree that the vaccine is the cavalry in this situation. The sooner we have 80% of the population vaccinated the sooner we all get back to normal. Encourage your friends and family to put their faith in the scientists, who can prove their theories, not the old men in dresses at corner shops who have nothing but ‘faith’ to offer.

 

[maninasuitcase]

Absolutely, as a senior civil servant I can absolutely agree that the vaccine is the cavalry in this situation. The sooner we have 80% of the population vaccinated the sooner we all get back to normal. Encourage your friends and family to put their faith in the scientists, who can prove their theories, not the old men in dresses at corner shops who have nothing but ‘faith’ to offer.

Absolutely, we have to put our faith in the scientists. Unfortunately, the scientists are not running the show. And those that are in charge are quite happy to ignore their advice when it suits them. At the end of day this will cost lives, and lengthen the crisis.

 

[SARF]

i Was under the impression that vaccines do no more than prepare your immune system for when you catch it.. so you are less likely to get very ill or die..you can presumably still pass it on ? thus it makes sense to vaccinate the vulnerable. As youngsters and healthy adults under 50 are about as likely to drown than die from C 19 then they should be at the very end of any Q if they even need it at all

 

[Holy Joe]

Not sure if this is going to work - twitter thread explaining in layman terms how mRNA works

https://twitter.com/x/status/1339624815137722368

 

[Holy Joe]

i Was under the impression that vaccines do no more than prepare your immune system for when you catch it.. so you are less likely to get very ill or die..you can presumably still pass it on ? thus it makes sense to vaccinate the vulnerable. As youngsters and healthy adults under 50 are about as likely to drown than die from C 19 then they should be at the very end of any Q if they even need it at all

If the vaccine primes the immune system then, and I'm guessing now, your body kills the virus quicker meaning you're contagious for a shorter period of time and so transmission is reduced? Sounds logical to me - but not sure it's true - anyone know for sure?