To think we should be honest

[thegreenlight]

It’s schools that are causing so many cases, not shops and restaurants. I’m a teacher, we should absolutely, positively keep schools open but why do tier 3 lockdowns act as if it is anything other than schools that are causing the jump in cases? We are punishing businesses because we don’t want to shut schools but want to look like something is being done. If you want schools to stay open, just acknowledge that there will be more cases and carry on. AIBU? Are we targeting restaurants and shops unfairly to create the illusion of containing the virus?

Wasn't schools here, it was the students. Don't blame them or anything but that was what caused our numbers to shoot through the roof. And all the other lockdown areas are large university towns

As far as I am aware, my DD's secondary hasn't had any cases of transmission within the school.
It has had a handful of isolated cases, but no linked ones.

Make of that what you will.

Maybe it’s just here - we have had whole secondaries closed and all the primaries have lost at least one class to self isolation. I think more people are testing when they are being told to isolate which is causing more detection of a-symptomatic cases.

No cases at my DS's secondary school either and they don't wear masks, at all, and nor do they have to go to school in their PE kit on PE day (what is that about even?).

I’m a primary teacher. There hasn’t been a single case in my school yet. I have friends who are teachers in probably 10 other schools. None of them have had a case yet either.

Goodness - maybe we are heading for a local lockdown then!

DD's secondary school have had 3 isolated cases.
All infections have been caught externally, small bubbles sent home and no further spread. Excellently handled by the school.

One confirmed case at DCs secondary school. Limited contact as 6th form so very few pupils/teachers affected. We are tier 2 so would expect more tbh but there you go. Sadly, one size doesn’t fit all and obviously there is t one main cause for all infections so not really able to say it is schools.

Not one confirmed case in my area in schools either according to my local group

Two cases in our primary. No known transmission within school.

re keeping schools open v bars.
I think of it as cumulation of risk.

Yes schools add risk, but so do many other things. We want to keep schools open (education and mental health of children), so in order to do that some other things need to be restricted to lower overall risk.

I actually agree with the op - the reason why it doesn't alway look like its the schools though is kids are mostly asymptomatic - so they spread it but dobt 'get it'

I agree.

If you include colleges and universities in ‘schools’ then yes I agree they are the overwhelming reason for the current numbers.

The main issue with smaller children is they’re the most likely to be asymptomatic. So lots of parents will jump in with ‘our school has had no cases/isolations...etc’ but that means very little really. The symptom free little germ monsters (yes I am also a parent) are still going out into the community and spreading it around to more vulnerable people!

University’s should NEVER have physically been allowed back, at least not the courses which could (and now are being) done online.

Its disgusting how the government have exploited young people to pay landlords rent, stranded them alone and isolated then placed all the blame on them for acting out and getting fed up.

@NiceandCalm - pe kits on pe days is really simple. In many secondary schools, changing rooms are cramped, airless places where it is impossible to socially distance. Plus hot and sweaty children tend to breathe more heavily so add higher respiration rates into the mix and you have an ideal transmission area for the virus.

In primary schools they don't have changing rooms so have to make use of available space. Classrooms, smaller areas, maybe even the toilets. It's probably easier overall to just send them in kit to avoid the hassle of finding a changing space and then cleaning it after use ready for the space to be used again straight away.

I also agree with the op as pp has said. In my school there are several 'suspicious' colds, lots of coughs.... I myself caught COVID earlier in the year from a school child who was coughing for half an hour in my office while waiting for parents to collect and take home.

Younger children are often not badly hit with the virus, it's difficult to make a judgement and lots are asymptomatic. I agree we can't shut the schools down again but family spreads of the virus are far more likely to be the schools than any pub or restaurant and no, we shouldn't be punishing businesses for this reason....

My primary school has had several positive staff cases. These staff members are all very sensible, ie. sticking to the rules outside of work and limiting risk wherever possible inside school by not mixing with other staff members and social distancing.

They are convinced they contracted it in their classrooms, which would suggest that although children may not show signs of Covid, they may well be asymptotic but infectious.

So I suppose closing other areas down (pubs, restaurants, etc.) limits the opportunity for adults to spread it to other adults, as children go home and spread it to their adult family members.

I don’t know what the answer is. I don’t want schools closed but I do agree that they are playing a big part in transmission rates, but this is not being recognised as children themselves don’t seem to show symptoms.

@modgepodge
Most children are just asymptomatic. I think we’d be surprised how many positive cases are at school if we tested everyone.
Parents are also keeping children home for a few days should any symptoms arise for the fear of being locked for 2 weeks. I’m sure many people just don’t test anymore (not like tests are easily available anyway).

We are in the South West so low local community spread (not a big city with universities etc) My DCs secondary school had 8 confirmed cases before half term over 4 different year groups. They also claim there is no evidence the transmission occured at school, most parents don't believe a word of it.

But if teens are asymptomatic and spreading it everywhere, surely you'd expect their own families to be coming down with it? (and also maybe the teachers). I haven't heard much of apparently well teens having to isolate because their own families are ill.

I'm glad someone is being honest.
DD's school has had 6 classrooms closed. DS had 2 close he has an SNA in mainstream she is with him holding hands, personally care needs she has no choice but close contact.
The school isn't spreading yet but DC are bringing it in so it will spread through interaction.
Some live with lots of extended family, others in hotel accommodation, it is scary.

5 cases not linked to transmission within the school. School hasn’t closed or any year groups sent home. 1 case meant a small group of children sent home all back now with no further spread, this was due to a mother of a child sending her child to school and then received a positive result so child immediately sent home. The child a few days later came down with symptoms and tested positive.

No cases in any of our local primaries . 1 in one of the high schools . That’s it.
We currently have one of the lowest case rates in England

no one positive in my children school either.

I honestly thought this was an accepted given. Something needs to be done to limit the virus, but closing schools, hospitals and nursing homes is not a viable option. Despite the fact that they are the three main driving forces behind infections.

So the government has to make the choice and prioritise what can be allowed to close. It's shit for business, shit for jobs and everyone involved. But it's less damaging than closing schools and driving more people put of work because of childcare.