To wonder how schools can realistically reopen when there is still a killer virus about with no vaccine?

[JustCantShakeIt]

I’m not talking about them reopening now, in May or June or even September.

Who is prepared to send their DC into a school with hundreds of other DC, where social distancing and keeping a germ free environment is literally impossible, even with the best wills in the world, when there is a life threatening disease floating about which is highly transmittable and you have no guarantee it won’t make your DC severely ill or die.

Social distancing just between parents will be impossible at my DC’s school of over 500 where we all have to wait outside the main gates at pick up time.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m desperate for schools to reopen before my DC turn completely feral, but I don’t see how that can happen until we have a vaccine. We’re being told to stay home and keep our distance now due to the risk, the risk will be the same next month or in 5 months won’t it?

@MigginsMs Test, contact trace and force isolation. That is the best way,
It has been clear for some time that Boris is a coward and will not take any unpopular decisions, so it won't happen.

It isn't possible to live your life with zero risk. Schools will return once the risk has been reduced to an acceptably low level, but not zero.

We need to remember that a severely weakened economy will also cost lives.

I know we are told that children are not as affected as older adults but who is prepared to put their DC in the firing line to be the 0.01% who die from it

Erm... yes... and most people put their children at risk (albeit small levels of risk) all the time.
Have you ever .. taken your child in a car and risked a car accident? Even, put your child forward facing in a car seat increasing that risk 500%? Put your child in a sleepyhead or a different room to you as an infant increasing the SIDs risk? Given formula? Flown on an aeroplane? Left your child unattended as a toddler or a young child for 5 minutes in a room? Walked down a busy road with them walking themselves? Let your teenager make their own way home? Let them go out in the evening? Get a cab home? Etc etc etc
Our lives are full of small risks and we make decisions on them all the time.

There is a strong argument to be made that the VERY small risk to children is a price worth paying to get them back learning, socialising, get parents back working etc. I’m not sure at what point we say that the harm done to society from lockdown is worse than the risks of CV. That’s for the experts to determine.

The fact of the matter is that schools will reopen, and they will likely reopen when some parents and teachers think that the level of risk is unacceptable. The only real answer is that those parents will be free to homeschool (which has always been and is still an option) and those teachers will have to decide whether to go back to their career, or to leave.

@alloutoffucks

This is NOT what I think by the way. But it is what some are saying. Oh it is sad but lots of people die in car accidents, etc.

Is that not true though, a car accident is a risk in life, it is accepted. This virus surely is just a new risk that has been introduced. It goes on to the Risk Register of life.

We need to remember that a severely weakened economy will also cost lives.

Likely far, far more than COVID

Test, contact trace and force isolation. That is the best way

Yeah, agreed that this is what they should be doing once they can get it under control with lockdown.

Likely far, far more than COVID

Yes, agreed. But as I said earlier, there's little point in using logic or concerns for the economy. We're all just perceived as heartless bastards who want teachers and dinner ladies to die, so we can get our kids out of the house.

The only real answer is that those parents will be free to homeschool (which has always been and is still an option) and those teachers will have to decide whether to go back to their career, or to leave.

This

I’m a believer of karma. Those who don’t care if others get it might find themselves losing their own lives or the lives of their loved ones.

I’m a believer of karma.

Thankfully 'karma' is a load of bollocks. How else would you explain doctors, nurses, innocent children etc dying of COVID-19...

I’m a believer of karma. Those who don’t care if others get it might find themselves losing their own lives or the lives of their loved ones.

That's actually an incredibly nasty thing to say. If you break it down, you're wishing death on those who disagree with you. No-one has said that they don't care if people die.

If you don’t believe it, then you have nothing to worry about do you.

And if there is 'karma' that 'karma' might be people resistant to going back to work not having a job because the economy has tanked. But again, thankfully karma is bollocks.

I’m not wishing death on anyone, I just put the needs of others before myself.

The NHS uses about 20% of our tax revenues.

What happens when that reduces by 35% do you think?

By sending your kids to school you know the adult staff will get it, but you don’t care so don’t pretend otherwise.

@Iateallthecookies000 agreed, nothing to fear from Karma at all.

If you don’t believe it, then you have nothing to worry about do you

I sincerely hope you aren't a teacher as that is an incredibly toxic attitude to have.

I am concerned by all of the impacts of Coronavirus and therefore, my concerns are not just linked to people getting it but the social-economics impacts of its presence in the world.

Iateallthecookies000 I don't even have children, I just think that was an absolutely vicious thing to say. What do you want everyone to do, sit at home forever and starve?

I’m not wishing death on anyone, I just put the needs of others before myself.

You have a staggeringly simplistic understanding of how all this works.

@Iateallthecookies000 if you believe it, then you're saying all the people who have terrible lives (or deaths) deserved them so karma might not be the friend you think it is.

I do think generally treating people well is a way to get the same in return but that has nothing to do with health.

@PhilCornwall1 It is about a balance. No I dont drink drive, I dont drive when very tired, I use car seats and seat belts, I am careful with speed and if on the motorway have changed lanes to avoid bad or erratic drivers. You minimise the risks. You dont drive for 8 hours without stopping for example.
I am not asking for zero risk with this virus. I understand that is unrealistic. But if I catch this I have a 10% chance of dying. No I would not drive if I had a 10% chance of dying when I got in a car. And having a mother is more important to my kids than anything else.

There are lots of parents who are at a real risk of dying or being left with long term health problems as a result. And lots of school staff as well. We are being seen as acceptable casualties. I am sure that some that are saying, oh yes it is sad if people die but tough, are those who would also be saying oh how tragic that (my kids names) mum died. Well they can fuck off. They don't give a shit about my kids.