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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think there's no need to worry about socially distancing in schools in September?

53 replies

Blockpavingpath · 14/05/2020 18:47

Because all the dc are out in droves where I live - and I live in a naice area (not that that counts). We've still got 3 months to go it can only get more prolific.There's no way many of them won't have mingled over the Summer and trying to distance them after that will be a meaningless farce.
Disclaimer - my own dc are not allowed out.

OP posts:
Nonagoninfinity · 15/05/2020 07:39

Same here. I went for a walk yesterday and saw a couple of groups of about 6 teens wandering about our park and a few police officers moving them on. They weren't making a nuisance of themselves particularly but weren't social distancing.

Bluntness100 · 15/05/2020 07:42

The stats would show there is little to no need to do it in schools now. The disease is very very low risk to anyone under the age of 65 with no health conditions. Like miniscule risk.

MsTSwift · 15/05/2020 07:44

They are allowed to meet one friend for a socially distanced walk. Both mine did that yesterday and are so much happier for it

PheasantPlucker1 · 15/05/2020 07:44

So why are the MPs refusing to all go back then?

Lead by example and that.

GhostofFrankGrimes · 15/05/2020 07:47

I expect social distancing to still be in place in September. If people aren't obeying instruction outside of a formal setting that is there lookout.

Ridingthegravytrain · 15/05/2020 07:47

What bluntness said!

LemonPudding · 15/05/2020 07:52

The stats would show there is little to no need to do it in schools now. The disease is very very low risk to anyone under the age of 65 with no health conditions. Like miniscule risk.

Source?

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 15/05/2020 07:52

There are not only children in schools

And the risk of dying is minimal for under 65’s without any underlying health conditions. Many many people are very ill even with mild conditions. Then there is the ongoing health issues of organ damage that are now being seen from those that I’ve had covid.

Social distancing will be part of our lives for some time. Of course young people will meet up and not think about it I’m sure I will have done the same but in schools there can be an element of control and those pupils that are at a slightly more higher risk need to be able to return to

WhatdoImean · 15/05/2020 07:54

OK - I admit it. I still don't know how people do not get this.

  1. The risk to children is small (though currently, there are some major concerns about the effect on kids with some pre-existing conditions.
  2. BUT.... this does not stop kids being carriers!! They can spread the disease quite happily, even while showing no symptoms ("asymptomatic") and thus infecting their parents, and potentially grandparents. If the kids at school get it, they don't simply just ignore it, get through it - they spread it to everyone around, including their own family, teachers etc.
  3. We keep going on about PPE for health workers, and those in homes - as far as a person working in a school or a home for the elderly, from the perspective of the person working their and disease transmission, it is exactly the same... So.. do we have enough PPE for teachers??

I wish there was a head in hands emote!

WhatdoImean · 15/05/2020 07:55

*there

minisoksmakehardwork · 15/05/2020 07:56

What about the Kawasaki type disease which appears to be linked to covid-19 and is surfacing in children and teens?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 15/05/2020 08:11

OK - I admit it. I still don't know how people do not get this.

With you here, it’s baffling. Also on the death of the patient as the only negative endpoint that matters. As if spending significant periods of time in ICU with currently unknown long term impacts of a novel illness was just a minor problemthat isn’t worth preventing.

Pre-emoting the inevitable ‘children aren’t transmitters’ argument - we’re in the early stages of this disease. There is (understandably) conflicting data from different studies. More information is needed and until we get it, deciding on a public health policy on the basis that some studies show it’s not an issue would be completely irresponsible,

Goldenbear · 15/05/2020 08:24

Yes, what about Kawasaki, it is a delayed response to having the virus which is pretty significant as it has arrived 3 weeks after the peak.

ElbasAbsentPenis · 15/05/2020 08:24

@WhatdoImean I think people do get it, they just don’t care to think beyond the immediate consequences for themselves and their children and can’t imagine why anyone else would care, either.

Ginnyrellas · 15/05/2020 08:25

Kawasaki type disease which appears to be linked to covid-19 and is surfacing in children and teens?

The key words there are appears and linked just like eating too much red meat appears to be linked to a increased likelihood of cancer. It doesn’t mean it actually is.
Common sense should prevail here. If children weren’t at minimal risk then we would of seen a surge in child fatalities. Which we haven’t.... why? Because they experience mild symptoms or are Asymptomatic.

StepAwayFromGoogle · 15/05/2020 08:53

Yes, the link has yet to be proven. It could be a separate virus unrelated to COVID-19.
And social distancing in 4 and 5 year olds is ridiculous. I think you just have to accept that they will have a small social bubble of 15 or less children that they are able to mix with or not send them back at all. Ditto masks for teachers - terrifying for young children.
The vulnerable should continue to be shielded so no teachers over 65 or with underlying health conditions should be in schools anyway.

Ethelfleda · 15/05/2020 09:22

Was just about to say - the Kawasaki link is yet to be proven. And in addition, the numbers of children affected by it are very small.
In the Lombardy region in Italy (the worst hit region) they had 10 cases a month and it is apparently, very treatable.

There have been a number of paediatricians saying that, while we should be alert for it, there is not reason for it to have a bearing on whether children can come out of lockdown.

Onone · 15/05/2020 09:28

Social distancing is stupid,you have to wait 2 metres apart outside but don’t inside,kids round my area have been out an about since schools closed!my neighbours have had family round,bbq’s you name it,while I’m losing my marbles doing as I’m told

Floatyboat · 15/05/2020 09:31

It's daft worrying about it now to be honest. Just let them get on with their lives.

HathorX · 15/05/2020 09:51

I think this is why the Government is giving up on keeping the schools perfectly safe. Unless you keep kids off school forever, what on earth can you possibly do except allow them to go back and start mixing, with a nod at social distancing but knowing that ultimately you simply can't keep that up for long. I mean, look how useless the adults have been at following the rules - people who openly flout the rules, people who are planning to protest against lockdown, people who look for loopholes and excuse minor lapses for one reason or another. If the adults can't manage, there is no chance our children will. They have poor impulse control and they will simply forget the rules.

LaurieFairyCake · 15/05/2020 09:59

If everyone's seen how schools in Europe are doing it with:

  1. Plexi glass screens round desks particularly teachers
  1. Social distancing chalk marks in playground
  1. One way systems in spacious corridors (we don't have spacious corridors)
  1. TINY CLASS SIZES
  1. One/2 year groups in at a time
  1. It's London, we have loads of BAME teachers - why is no one thinking about them properly Sad
Notonthestairs · 15/05/2020 10:04

Everything Laurie said.

onedayinthefuture · 15/05/2020 10:07

It just won't work long term, it's a short term thing. I've seen quite a few teenagers out together in groups and definitely no social distancing. I don't know why the media are so up in arms about it and trying to enforce it on little kids. It's either safe for them to go back or it's not.

therobin · 15/05/2020 10:10

The disease is very very low risk to anyone under the age of 65 with no health conditions. Like miniscule risk.

So no problems for all the school staff then?

DippyAvocado · 15/05/2020 10:14

Teens have been congregating in grouos where I live throughout lockdown. I don't know where their parents think they are, or maybe parents were out at work.

Applause for WhatdoImean. Yes, children themselves may not be badly affected but if there is not social distancing in classrooms an asymptomatic child I a classroom could spread it to 14 other children. They then go home and could spread to their families, who will then go to their own place of work or to the shops. Children are part of the chain of transmission which we have been trying to break.