To be angry and frustrated about this

[Lissy23]

About a month or so ago we had some of the highest rates in the country. We are in West Yorkshire, bordering Lancashire.
My DP works in a secondary school. The virus ripped through and all year 9, 10 and 11 were off within weeks of each other. The entire senior staff team including the headteacher got it too. And some of the teachers.
They made the decision to test all staff because it was getting out of control and my DP tested negative.
However, I heard many stories of similar things going on in our area a month or two ago.
I’m frustrated and angry as there weren’t calls to shut schools back then.
We’ve also been under tight restrictions since July and in September our rates started creeping up, by October they were getting very bad indeed.
They’re dropping off now (probably one of the only areas that is).
I also know that hospitals in Manchester and Leeds were struggling, maybe not to the same extent as London, but Manchester definitely declared a major incident at one point.

A family friend contracted it back in October from working in a school as a lunchtime supervisor , she is in her early 60s and ended up in hospital on oxygen. She’s ok now. But I just wonder why we had to go through all of that with no mention of school closures.

Because the powers that be don't give a shit when stiff happens up north.

Enough of this North V South.

The govt didn’t want to close all London schools, they’ve done it because leaders of London local authorities & The Mayor of London kicked off & put pressure in them. Before Xmas the same government were threatening to Sue London councils for closing those schools 4 days early.
Let’s get this straight - this Government don’t give a shit about any of us, no matter where we live.

We were tier 1 (Scotland) before boxing day, yet the last two weeks of school it spread throughout nursery/school, including some VERY ill staff, an area that our only county hospital has the new strain.

I do believe we need a nationwide lockdown first, but when schools reopen it NEEDS to be more locally focused.

You make a very good point OP.

This is my experience too!

Because population density is higher in the south. It’s just math.

The Government don’t care what’s happening up north, they’ve made that abundantly clear time and time again during this crisis.

probably because large parts of the country still haven't got much disease - it is mainly in limited more densely populated areas

The government doesn't need to close schools and face the wrath of voters, it just needs to watch as education collapses in on itself and then blame those pesky unions and head teachers.

@nancy75

Enough of this North V South.

The govt didn’t want to close all London schools, they’ve done it because leaders of London local authorities & The Mayor of London kicked off & put pressure in them. Before Xmas the same government were threatening to Sue London councils for closing those schools 4 days early.
Let’s get this straight - this Government don’t give a shit about any of us, no matter where we live.

This

You have a good point. Theoretically once a place has had a big outbreak the later infection rates should be less out of control as there will be some immunity amongst people.

Infection rates have soared in the south east despite the November lockdown and tier 4. The situation in hospitals there is much worse than it ever got in the north. This is probably due to the new variant.

The situation now is very different to what it was in the north a couple of months ago. A few schools may have had a few cases but it wasn't on the same scale as this.

They don't want to close schools because it has a disproportionate effect on children. It is a last resort.

The situation now is even worse than it was then
Its not a north south divide at all
The goverment want schools open but now they are coming under pressure from unions and rates in london and new strain is what made them make decision on some london schools , then threat of court or whatever and they had to close them all
But its not north and south and people need to remember the south is not just london

Our infection rates are much lower than in October also (South Yorkshire) No one gave a shit about us then

@thirstyformore

Because the powers that be don't give a shit when stiff happens up north.

Well, yeah of course. You were suckered, you voted Brexit and you voted Conservative, and now they will go back to ignoring you while it all turns to shit.

You chose this...

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