The government have fucked up the re-opening of schools

[noblegiraffe]

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

Noble and other teachers who were very kind to me when ds has his breakdown and was bullied years ago. My ds was one of the children speaking. You can see now why I'm forever grateful to you all. Bursting with pride

Aw I just looked up the clip, @itsgettingweird Not sure which of the two lads is yours but both were lovely and very articulate (unlike Gav). Hope he enjoys his T-levels!

Thanks for the kind comments from others too. It's nice to be reminded that I don't just write moany threads about the government on here!

My son has to get a bus to school - with 3 other schools of mixed year groups. Then strict bubbles at school. Same bus home. So what the f#ck is the point! Surely they should at least lay on 1 bus per school.

Ah but the bus bubble can burst too. It has at one of our local schools.

There is almost NO right or wrong way in this pandemic. I suggest you stop getting everyone upset and worried, though. Far too much of that.Posting links is pointless and irritating, as if you Google there are many articles with varying points of view.
I didn't vote for this Government and I am afraid it is what people voted for. Money before public care. Having said that, I think they do act as far as they can, in the public interest, in some cases.
I am not voting as this is a dangerous game.

There is almost NO right or wrong way in this pandemic

That’s just not true. Giving jobs to mates, not sacking piss-takers, sacking other people instead of taking responsibility for mistakes, running smear campaigns against unions and public sector workers, breaking international law etc etc. All these things are objectively bad in a pandemic as they erode public trust in the government which is the absolute key thing that they need to successfully implement any plans.

I suggest you stop getting everyone upset and worried,

Yeah, the problem in this that’s upsetting and worrying people is me

Posting links is pointless and irritating

I disagree. Feel free not to click.

Funguy -I suggest you stop getting everyone upset and worried, though
The fact that Johnson has admitted we don’t have enough testing and Dido Harding’s comments that they didn’t anticipate the level of need in testing is massively worrying. Fast & efficient testing underpins everything, allowing schools, other health services and businesses to carry on.
Noble has simply listed the Government’s own criteria!

Posting links is pointless and irritating, as if you Google there are many articles with varying points of view.
But what would Clavinova do with her time?

I didn't vote for this Government and I am afraid it is what people voted for. Money before public care. Having said that, I think they do act as far as they can, in the public interest, in some cases.
Ditto

I am not voting as this is a dangerous game
What is? Openly saying that the Government have failed to deliver what they promised?
Gavin Williamson addressing parliament on 2nd July:
We are also ensuring that testing is readily available, so that parents, teachers and students can return with confidence. All staff, pupils and their families will continue to have access to testing if they develop covid-19 symptoms.
The failure to deliver this is disrupting children’s education and our pandemic response.

It has proved hand washing is not enough!

Even if it were just the case that it allowed rhinoceros to spread. We can't distinguish those so testing overwhelmed.

Keepdistance I would love rhinoceroses to spread. A stampede through the House of Commons would be very entertaining.
However, I do know what you mean. I was thinking whether it was worth having the flu jab as I thought most bugs would be less likely this year due to people being more hygienic. However, I am having it this week as there is so much sniffing, coughing and sneezing going on!

@Jzpap

Currently 11% of people in your poll think YABU That’s 11% of participants in your poll who are either delusional or die hard Boris supporters regardless of the mess he’s made. I cannot believe anyone believes that this shit show of a government has done anything remotely well

Exactly what I was thinking. I really struggle to understand what Bozo could actually do for people to admit they've been conned. Worst death rate in Europe, totally screwed up A Level results (for poor ppl only), siphoned off hundreds of millions of pounds to their mates for non existent/useless PPE (aka corruption), currently threatening to break international law and turning Kent into a lorry park ready for the food and medicine shortages that will come with a No Deal. So what exactly could they do for these 11% of people to wonder whether Bozo is not only incapable, it's probably worse than that because this feels more like wilful destruction than mere incompetence. Choosing economy over health might even have a logic to it, if they weren't simultaneously setting fire to the economy by telling the whole world we're not a country to do business with as we are untrustworthy.

@Funguy

There is almost NO right or wrong way in this pandemic. I suggest you stop getting everyone upset and worried, though. Far too much of that.Posting links is pointless and irritating, as if you Google there are many articles with varying points of view. I didn't vote for this Government and I am afraid it is what people voted for. Money before public care. Having said that, I think they do act as far as they can, in the public interest, in some cases. I am not voting as this is a dangerous game.

I really, really don't understand how you think that they act in the public interest. I would genuinely struggle to name a single action they've taken willingly, that had the general public's benefit in mind. The things they've actually spent time on should tell you who they care about.... e.g ensuring there are exemptions to rule of 6 for hunting.... paying finance fund companies based in tax havens for PPE....ensuring the A Level fiasco didn't affect the Etons of the world etc.

minty what Bollocks. Schools have only closed partly or fully for confirmed cases.

Hi There.
We have friends in Northern Ireland. and I occasionally look at the BBC Northern Ireland text news. (Usually just to mock them about their constantly atrocious weather).
Last week there was an item which stated that in the first two weeks of Primary and Secondary pupils returning to school, there were sixty four schools that had either pupil/s and/or teacher/s who were diagnosed with Covid. I was gobsmacked that this was not highlighted in Parliament nor commented on by by any opposition party,
Really strangely, when I rang our friends they were not aware of this number either.
The item has now been removed, but this is standard for any news item after five days or so.
That facts like this, which appear almost unnoticed from a reputable source seem to indicate what is really happening.
One Love
One World
PBVincent

bemused mouse

Surely they should at least lay on 1 bus per school

There are no more buses. Government cuts over recent years mean travel was cut. Bus companies couldn't make the reduced offer pay, bus companies pulled out, many collapsed.
There are no buses.. just when we need more buses....