“ In the global league table of incompetent pandemic management, the UK is doing something highly unusual. Its school year is starting with minimal infection control”

[Redolent]

From Harvard Professor William Hanage. He goes on to write:

“ Teaching is conducted in person and masks aren’t mandatory, unless you’re in a coronavirus hotspot. Kids are grouped into “bubbles” as large as 300 students, which amounts to less of a bubble and more like the planet Saturn (rings included).”

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/27/britain-failure-covid-surge-disaster-test-trace-virus

Is this true? Are we really the only country with this level of infection and virtually no precautionary measures in schools? (cheap packs of anti bac wipes aside) I know that France and (I think) Spain have mandated face masks in secondary schools.

Yes everywhere else kids and staff in masks.
Most countries includinv primary age.
It would be a lot better and less likely to have 12% of the kids off.
Usa they are allowed a choice of home learning here he have...fines!

And France and Spain have more cases and hospitalizations than we do so why do you think masks work so well?

@Mummabeary

And France and Spain have more cases and hospitalizations than we do so why do you think masks work so well?

Because they allowed weddings and social gatherings of 200+ people plus throughout. Spain also nightclubs, no social distancing or masks there.

It’s hard to compare the UK’s education system with that in the US, where I live, not least because school districts here vary so much in what they are doing. But I can tell you about what has been happening in my local school district. At present, all classes are conducted online. When schools open in a few weeks, twice-weekly testing will be available for teachers and staff in schools who request it. Masks will be worn by all students, teachers and staff, and those students who want remote learning will be able to get it, resulting in fewer kids in each “bubble”

That all sounds sensible! Why does our government persist with the ‘everything MUST go back as normal!’ plan?!

Because, as seen in many hundreds of posts here, some people need it to.

There is still no right answer to this, just shades of rightish and oops!

They've no idea what policy to follow, they keep flip flopping from one to another like a stranded fish. I still can't believe people voted for these idiots, it's embarrassing.

People overseas are horrified at U.K. schools approach. My husband’s colleague in Japan sent us condolences when he heard there was no SD & no masks in our schools & said “but hasn’t your government told you about long term effects in children?” That would be a no.

What long term effects in children?

Yes, it's true.

No the easy thing would have been to
Allow no fines
Choice of home or in person
Smaller bubbles
Masks on teachers and at least secondary students.

Reduced childrens clubs etc to outside for cubs or alternate weeks
Closed pubs weekend evenings

as large as 300 !! And the rest, mate!!

@mac12

So what does your husbands colleague know that scientists here don’t?

I’d love to know.

Why does our government persist with the ‘everything MUST go back as normal!’ plan?!

Because anti-lockdown campaign groups like UsforThem shouted and stamped their feet, and the Tory government don’t like teachers.

some people need it to

But not in other countries?

I'm in Greater Manchester- face masks are mandatory moving around the school.

Other countries?

Tiresome! Other countries have different needs, options etc.

Other countries are making the same, and many different, hindsight identified errors.

Other countries are making similar decisions with similar results.

Read round here a bit. There are as many crying out for more easing if specific restrictions as are crying out for more lockdown criteria.

What would you suggest? Across the whole of society, all cohorts...

I've said it before, the government has to listen to the scientists.

Especially back in march. Jeremy corybn would have had to do the same.
Now though jc would probably be doing everything he could to smash the economy and break us down, so he could inflict socialism on us.

Of course now, the gov has to be independent and take in the whole picture. But the fact we don't seem to have learned much is so much deeply concerning.

Dr Jenny harries said we don't need masks in school because of the '' measures '' in place. Ie forward facing desks etc.

No one seems to mention this or bother with what she said?

I think she's been utterly appalling since the start, I have not felt in good safe hands at all. I've also strongly District valance and think he's way out of his depth.. The only one I trust is whitty.

It was a work call so they couldn’t get into it. But it’s clear other countries are taking it more seriously.

Moving around school masks is something, but a drop in the ocean for dc in hundreds of strong bubbles.
Many dc think because they are in a bubble that they can't catch covid.
The teacher safe space is also non existing in many classroom rooms.

Dr Jenny harries said we don't need masks in school because of the '' measures '' in place. Ie forward facing desks etc.

Forward facing desks. All facing forward. All facing the teacher. And teachers are not allowed to wear masks in the classroom.

As I've said before on other threads, this is a complete turnaround from March/ April when at risk teachers were allowed to work from home managing the online learning. Now, they've been totally ignored, forgotten. Instead the risk to their health is increased with all the children facing them, breathing and coughing in their direction and they're not even allowed to wear masks.

The illnesses that meant some teachers previously had to shield have not miraculously disappeared. I fear for those working in high risk areas. It's just wrong.

@WhyNotMe40 I have a friends who's 8 yr old son caught covid 18/19 weeks ago (no underlying conditions). He now has an enlarged aorta, enlarged gallbladder, permanently blood shot eyes and a persistent cough. As yet they don't know what the outcome of these will be.

Yes it’s ridiculous. And people keep pointing to other countries where schools are fully
open as models for the UK/evidence that’s it’s all OK, ignoring the fact that they have far more precautions in place!

School should be part time with smaller classes and time for proper cleaning, masks worn in communal areas etc... but for some odd reason we’re stuck in an ‘all or nothing’ frame of mind that just isn’t sustainable...

I'm in Italy and schools in my town go back tomorrow. Masks (one of two kinds only) must be worn in all communal areas and when moving around the classroom. The desks are all 2m apart. So seated, they can remove the masks. The teachers are going to sanitise their desks and the computer at each change of hour. There's going to be staged entry and exit. No mingling at breaktime, for now break will be held in the classroom.
Larger classes have been split in 2. DD was in a class of 24, she's now in a group of 12.
Will it work? Who knows. But they've done what they can to get the kids back into school so fingers crossed.
Other schools have gone back already in some areas and because of high testing (all teachers were invited to be tested) some have already closed due to asymptomatic positive test results.
Everything is set up to move online again if needed. Hopefully not.