They have, haven't they?
Back in June their five tests for reopening schools were:
First we must protect the NHS’s ability to cope, and be sure that it can continue to provide critical care and specialist treatment right across the whole of the United Kingdom.
Second, we need to see daily death rates from coronavirus coming down.
Third, we need to have reliable data that shows the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels.
Four, we need to be confident that testing capacity and PPE is being managed, with supply able to meet, not just today’s demand, but future demand.
And fifth, and perhaps most crucially, we need to be confident that any changes we do make will not risk a second peak of infections.
I'm pretty sure I know the reason for not reminding people of those five tests this time round, but particularly test 4 - capacity within the testing system.
I was listening to the radio today about how the lack of testing is damaging the NHS's capacity to reopen services as nurses with symptoms cannot get tests and therefore cannot return to work. The same goes for schools - if teachers cannot get tests, either for themselves or for family members with symptoms, then they cannot go to work. This has been the case even with priority referrals.
There also seems to be utter chaos around who gets sent home when there is a positive test. Some schools are sending home a year group, others close contacts. Teachers often have no idea if they'll be sent home if one of their pupils tests positive.
But surely the government are tracking cases in schools carefully? No, it turns out they're not even storing that data. schoolsweek.co.uk/its-official-dfe-doesnt-know-how-many-schools-have-covid-cases
And a survey suggests that covid protection measures in some schools are poor. www.tes.com/news/third-teachers-lack-soap-and-water-school
So with an abysmal test and trace system, less than adequate measures to prevent the spread, and a department that isn't on top of its brief we can expect more disruption to come.
Even if your own kids' school is fine so far, parents really shouldn't be happy with this state of affairs, particularly the lack of testing capacity that will mean children will be out of school or missing a teacher unnecessarily.
YABU: The government have done a sterling job
YANBU: The government have not done a sterling job
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The government have fucked up the re-opening of schools
637 replies
noblegiraffe · 15/09/2020 18:34
OP posts:
Am I being unreasonable?
2227 votes. Final results.
POLL
You are being unreasonable
11%
You are NOT being unreasonable
89%
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