Italy closes all schools and colleges

[vikkimoog]

Just seen this. All closed till mid March

I think it’s a wise decision. It’s not a solution but it might buy time for scientists to create a vaccine.

Are they definitely? It still says thinking about in my news source and bbc isn't updating properly

If they do that in the uk it would cripple the NHS. ...and the economy.

BBC says definitely closing.
can't begin to think what that will do to their economy, or ours if we follow suit.
Still seems a bit stable door / horse bolted 2 weeks ago

I can’t find anywhere that says they have, only that it’s an option. Can you link to it please?

Why would closing schools cripple the NHS?

In a way I wish they would shut everything down now in the UK for a fortnight so the illness would show in everyone who is gestating it and the just maybe it'll have got warm enough to slow it down by the time you came out of it. But obviously not feasible for a number of reasons! However, could be cheaper than having to do it later and maybe for longer?

www.bbc.co.uk/news

it's right on the front page

I think it’s a wise decision. It’s not a solution but it might buy time for scientists to create a vaccine.

Mid March is 11 days away, how are they going to come up with a vaccine and test it in that time?

OMG, there's a coronavirus forum now?!

It will slow the spread.

Why would closing schools cripple the NHS?

The sheer volume of medical staff who are parents and who would suddenly be without daytime childcare.

Who is going to look after the kids who are off school?

Well what happens if the kids become ill because they are being sent to school then need to stay at home for two weeks?

Surly it’s the same thing? As who will do their childcare then?

And if a member of the family has it, are you not all supposed to self isolate as it’s likely you will all have it?

Schools in HK have been closed since mid Jan until April 20th.

It’s the volume of people off at the same time that is the problem.
If my DC is ill, it isn’t likely that my colleagues’ DCs are also ill and so they can cover.
If everyone’s DCs are off school and isolated there will be no other childcare provision as in school holidays, parents will have to take time off simultaneously.

Who will be looking after the children of the medical staff in the countries where all the schools have/will close?

That’s what I’m wondering too @Letseatgrandma

How will medical staff go to work if they have to care for their children? Maybe all parents will have to pull together somehow?

Maybe in the UK they will just extend the Easter hols or half term and then make the summer holidays shorter?

Grandparents do a lot of childcare in Italy, they're probably assuming they'll step up (most schools are closed in the afternoon and kids already spend half a day with the grandparents, sending babies to nursery is less common too). The government mentioned measures for working parents who don't have childcare but no details yet.

Closing the schools is pointless because the younger kids are being taken out to parks and bars by their mothers or grandparents (the age group most at risk) while the older ones are organising impromptu parties and big nights out to celebrate schools being closed.

News said they are being closed for 10 days

Yes, they are.
And the parties are beginning.
The schools were closed for deep cleaning last weekend and 3000 teenagers went to the opening night of a new enormous nightclub.

My dds are meant to be going skiing with the school in Italy at the end of the month! Reluctant to buy all their bits just yet but the school is insisting they are still going. Don't know what to think now!

It will take 12-18 months to develop a vaccine