Italy closes all their schools and universities: how will you cope if we follow?

[ChristmasFlint]

I can work from home but not everyone can. It made me wonder how on earth people with sort childcare?

Closing schools too early damages the economy unnecessarily as we all have to stay off work to care for our kids. We aren't at the stage Italy is at. We might get to that point in which case the government will close some or all schools.
I'm a general prepper. Although I'm a bit at the government calling the next stage after containment "delay" - as in delay the worst for as long as possible until the general winter pressure on the NHS is eased - I can see the point .

I agree @bellinisurge. Unfortunately the government have to balance the economy with the potential death toll, not least because a plummeting economy could lead to even more pressure on services and eventual deaths. It's awful to have to look at it that way but unfortunately it's true. And long-term, the damage to the economy could be a lot worse than the actual virus. Don't get me wrong - my mum is immunocompromised and my much loved FIL is 85 so I'm very concerned about the virus itself. But with my sensible head on I can see that for the majority, the issue will be the impact on supply lines and the long term global economy.

Meh, schools are absolutely obsessed with attendance statistics. I'd imagine this (all schools closing) is a scenario that would never, ever happen in this country, no matter what turn this virus might take.

School attendance figures are a percentage of days open so surely the opposite would be true if they were truly obsessed?

If there are no closures then absence for self-isolation and illness will hit attendance stats whereas school closures won’t

We would be fine, I am sahp/carer for eldest who has ASD and currently refusing to go to college due to anxiety (social not covid related!), youngest would also appreciate not having to go to school as she has social anxiety (also asd). My sanity would suffer but what can you do.

I don't think we will reach that stage though (not minimizing the situation, absolutely not, but just doubt it will happen here, just dont think that we will reach the level Italy have).

If they are going to close schools it would make sense to close them for a fortnight around the easter holidays, that way there would be a four week break for the virus to stop spreading between children. I feel sorry for anyone who works in the civil service, they will be the last places to close if they are allowed to close at all, despite the amount of computerisation & the reduction of staff, the offices have a lot of people in small areas, most don't have air conditioning so there can be no filtering of the air in the buildings.

It won't make any difference to us at all, not being a gf or smug, just lifestyle choice.

I'm self employed based in a home office with older teens so no childcare issues. I think my main struggle would be not letting DS spend all his time gaming.

DD is in Y13 and already stressing about her A Levels but we've been getting almost daily emails from her school and they have plans in place to deliver lessons online if they have to close. I'm not sure how the exams would work though.

I feel really sorry for the international boarders at both DD & DS's schools who weren't able to go home at half term. It looks like like they won't be travel at Easter too or they would have to self isolate for 2 weeks afterwards if they did. I know some of the Chinese students are very worried about family back home.

DS is in year 12, so no important exams this year (I guess in extremis the college would do predicted grades off coursework for uni applications) but I wonder how disciplined he would be to do work and not spend all day on the xbox. Anyway, we may well find out.

I’m a teacher so childcare wouldn’t be an issue. More concerned how I can effectively teach my Yr 11 and Yr 13 students through their exams though! We have an online portal that I can set work through but it isn’t the same as the immediate teaching, assessing and reflection that happens spontaneously in the classroom. Plus not sure how I could do this when I haven’t got a school laptop or whilst supervising my own children!

Found out today that we currently have a student self-isolating so we’ve been told to be prepared in case the ‘situation escalates’ - whatever that means!

Risen to 115 confirmed cases in UK now.
I would like to know how are those people are getting on. Are any of them starting to feel better/able to return to work?

I'm a self employed teacher. Losing my money would be devastating to us. I've applied for 2 teaching jobs in the last week, to get away from being self employed. It's too unstable.

I am sahm and dh can work from home.

It looks like the UK has its first death, likely a teacher in Reading although I can't see this confirmed? I think the teacher was the only case at the Royal Berkshire?

A death has been confirmed, but no information given about the patient.

I heard on the news it was at the Royal Berkshire hospital, and a patient who was admitted last night

BBC website:

"The Royal Berkshire NHS Trust said they were an "older patient" who had been "in and out of hospital for non-coronavirus reasons". The patient "was admitted and last night tested positive for coronavirus""

It's saying an old man with underlying health issues.

www.standard.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-death-uk-britain-a4379801.html

So not the teacher but perhaps connected then if in the same area if this patient hasn't travelled.

We home educate, so not too affected other than eldest child is sitting GCSEs. I'm praying they happen when they're supposed to and don't run into contingency time.
I can't qute picture what home ed will look like and whether we'll still manage to have our regular groups.

Chocolatedaim this suggests that 7 have recovered which will be some of those affected early on. I imagine there will be some others who have not been tested but have mild illnesses/ no symptoms.

If school closes - DH's company already have them on "be prepared to WFH when the shit hits the fan" footing so he'd be OK to cover them, but to be honest, if schools close and we're at that level - universities are likely to be shut too - or I'll only be going in for exams and absolutely essential stuff, and trying to drive that rather than brave commuter trains, so I'll be at home too.

We'll all be driving each other insane after a day or so but that's another story!

There is no reason why our infection rate won’t be the same as Italys. Schools will be closing in the next couple of weeks or so. They may tag it on to Easter if they can stretch it that long.

@Justanotherlurker

That link you posted has a timeline of infection. Canada & Russia both had their first case earlier but their infection rate is at a much lower level overall. I may have missed something but is their a reasoning why they're low and others, like Italy, went at a rate of knots?

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/experts-confirm-human-animal-spread-coronavirus/

It's being reported that we have our first child positive with COVID-19. I wonder if it starts to spread heavily in children if people will want schools open. If feels like it will take child deaths for them to close.