Are our kids being thrown under the bus

[Pixxie7]

Chris Whitney has said that children are safe to go back to school because they are at low risk of complications from Covid.is this another case of politics being more important than lives?

If there is average 21 cases in every 100,000 people then it is 0.021 per cent chance of contracting it.

A pretty low average. Of course it will depend on certain areas being a higher average.

When you look at the overall data the vast majority of deaths and serious cases are in the over 60s so children are at lower risk. The affect of the lockdown on children has been disproportionately harsh and they have been let down appallingly.

While I do feel for teachers and school staff who are vulnerable or have vulnerable family members, I don't see how they are different to everyone else who either worked through lockdown or is now returning to work. Transmission of the virus is low if sensible precautions are taken, the hysteria is doing nothing more than making those already anxious feel worse.

It has to be done, children can't be forgotten any longer. Their education is essential, and whether it's right or wrong many jobs and family schedules are designed around school hours so by taking that away there are children who risk being left in poverty or homeless because parents can't work.

Why lattice? What is the alternative as this virus is here forever and I sure as hell am not living like this forever.

It’s not even hospitalising people now. It’s another common cold

@Orcsies

uk.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-europe-dozens-schools-report-162425875.html

This is after two weeks of SD, voluntary wearing of masks in classrooms (explicitly not recommended by the government here), compulsory mask wearing in hallways (see above) and generally a far less touchy-feely attitude towards interaction with others.

Of course the re-opening of schools will allow the virus to spread like wildfire, look at what happens when noroviruses are around.

Anyone who thinks that social distancing in schools will work - bearing in mind that the whole concept of year group/ key stage bubbles is flawed owing to sibling relations, public transport, staff across bubbles in relationships with each other and support staff who will see all children across bubbles regardless (such as kitchen staff) seriously needs to evaluate how they think schools work.

This - especially the last paragraph.

Herd immunity was the government’s original idea. Of course it’s not ethical but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Why lattice? What is the alternative as this virus is here forever and I sure as hell am not living like this forever.

It’s not even hospitalising people now. It’s another common cold

They are most likely going to have a vaccine soon.

We don't have to live with it forever, we just need to survive it a little longer.

So no OP YANBU

While I do feel for teachers and school staff who are vulnerable or have vulnerable family members, I don't see how they are different to everyone else who either worked through lockdown

And @majesticallyawkward many of us worked through lockdown too thanks

Unfortunately, people are ignorant: "It's a common cold". That's what you are dealing with.

He did say it was a balance between the harm done with them not going back, which is a valid point I guess.

OP, do you think we should leave a huge percentage of children without education for the next few months? as if the lockdown has not done enough damage already. Some families are well equipped to continue learning from home but many aren't and don't have access to computers of parents who can spend time with them. DD1 has complex SN and had no schooling since march (I WFH and couldn't spend time with her teaching), she lost not only her education but all access to therapies. everything. I cannot even begin to explain the damage it has caused to our family on so many levels. I find the thought of this going on far more terrifying than catching covid.

to answer your question - I think the children have been thrown under a but - by denying them an education for so long.

and most European countries sent children back to school without having the heard immunity model (apart from Sweden). you can always deregister your DC and homeschool forever, OP.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Why lattice? What is the alternative as this virus is here forever and I sure as hell am not living like this forever.

It’s not even hospitalising people now. It’s another common cold

Saying covid is another common cold shows either ignorance or denial.

Covid leaves a significant number of healthy people who contract it with lung, heart and other organ damage.

Therefore herd immunity can not be achieved without a vaccine without serious risk to health amongst the working age population. So it would be an unethical policy.

If you are happy to contract it, feel free.

I personally think those who contractor later will have better treatment options, so I am happy to wait.

Herd immunity through vaccine, totally different matter.

Anyone who thinks that social distancing in schools will work - bearing in mind that the whole concept of year group/ key stage bubbles is flawed owing to sibling relations, public transport, staff across bubbles in relationships with each other and support staff who will see all children across bubbles regardless (such as kitchen staff) seriously needs to evaluate how they think schools work.

This is absolutely true. I am comfortable with my DC going back to school when it comes to thinking only about them - odds are they'll be fine regardless of the impracticality/impossibility of the planned bubbles.

I'm less comfortable for the school staff. They're at a far higher risk and it needs to be openly acknowledged and they need assurances and protection. So many worked through lockdown and the DfE guidance was often late, wishy-washy or downright ridiculous.

A level students who weren’t able to sit their exams and are still dealing with the fall out, were thrown under a bus.

Let’s not replicate that for the next years cohort.

@angelfishrock

and most European countries sent children back to school without having the heard immunity model (apart from Sweden). you can always deregister your DC and homeschool forever, OP.

They all had SD though.

Our government is not putting in place measures to stop the virus spreading.

I don't personally think they are pursuing herd immunity. I think their only plan is 'what costs nothing and takes the least amount of ministerial time'. Answer: open schools with no mitigation.

Does it lattice? We don’t actually know much at all but that seems unlikely for the vast majority. My younger sister had it - some risk factors - and was very tired for eight weeks but fully recovered. Neighbour the same. Most people have had it very mildly and it’s becoming milder as we are seeing with the lack of admissions to hospital. It’s becoming more benign. I’m not remotely worried but am terrified at the impact otherwise namely mental health, cancer delays, children, education and a destroyed economy. We just aren’t seeing ill people in hospitals any more. I will not be vaccinating muscle of my family every six months for a virus that acts like a cold

They all had SD though.

no, they didn't. At least not in Germany. schools open, breakfast and after school clubs running, holiday clubs running as usual. That was already back in June!

@Friendsoftheearth

Here we go again....

So true.

How many MORE threads raking this over again & again & again.

Yay! A school thread.

The damage to children from schools being shut - lack of education, social contact, damage to future prospects - is all much greater than the risk to them of the virus. We would not have closed schools if the impact of the disease on everyone was like it was in the under 50s. It is because the elderly are affected so badly that the economy was shut down.

I am happy to wear a face mask and social distance but children need to go back to school.

Schools must go back. Yes, the situation needs monitoring but there is reasoned evidence to show that society can start to open from the experience gained returning pubs gyms and cinemas to operation. I'm annoyed by the reaction of some teachers, they want to be held in a public esteem along side doctors, paramedics and the fire service but only if it posses no risk of inconvenience to them personally. I think that teaching is a valuable profession but I do think that they should be public employees centrally employed and assigned to schools. Not only would it make their conditions more consistent but it would allow better talent distribution across the system.
If the r number starts to increase unacceptably when schools return then the first response should be to close pubs, cinemas, gyms, beauty salons and other non essential mixing points to enable schools to remain open.

I agree Eyewhisker.

The constant whingeing about everything - it's a crap situation we are all in. And the desperate need by the media to wheel out someone to blame for everything. Just makes everyone more annoyed and upset.

Private schools (primary admittedly) didn’t social distance within bubbles (teacher +TA + 15 pupils). nurseries don’t social distance in bubbles.
This will go on for years, we don’t even know if a vaccine will work. kids have to go back, there is no other option without seriously damaging a whole generation even more than has already happened

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Does it lattice? We don’t actually know much at all but that seems unlikely for the vast majority. My younger sister had it - some risk factors - and was very tired for eight weeks but fully recovered. Neighbour the same. Most people have had it very mildly and it’s becoming milder as we are seeing with the lack of admissions to hospital. It’s becoming more benign. I’m not remotely worried but am terrified at the impact otherwise namely mental health, cancer delays, children, education and a destroyed economy. We just aren’t seeing ill people in hospitals any more. I will not be vaccinating muscle of my family every six months for a virus that acts like a cold

This whole post is just an anecdote.

Covid is nothing like a cold. However your sister was (as an aside, are you usually 'very tired' for eight weeks with a cold? I usually feel crappy for a few days), that changes nothing about the facts of the virus.

Not true re lack of distancing in German schools. At that time, most states split classes and had children in a couple of days a week. Mine are now back FT but masks are worn in indoor areas (outside classrooms), distancing is supposed to be observed and I also know a lot of holiday activities (incl a camp mine usually go to) were cancelled.

A school in our town closed for three days this week after a teacher tested positive. Her class was tested, all negative, but they are to stay at home for another week and a half.