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?

If nurseries close I’m stuffed because I can’t work from home with a 2 year old so I think I’d end up having to try to fit my work into naptime and after bedtime which would be exhausting for more than a week or so.

I’m trying to imagine how you could close a university in the UK, where a large % of the students can’t simply be sent home to their parents, because they are from overseas, and where the universities are often campus-based. There might be no teaching, but people would still have to live there and there would need to be a certain level of service provision.

Ds is 15

I can work from home but am 100% sure neither of us want to be cooped up together non-stop for weeks on end! I don’t think we would be friends by the end

fedup dunno, I've kept well away from it. I just saw the announcement on the intranet.

Depends on how long they were closed for, and if nurseries are included. I could potentially ask for a laptop and do what I can from home. With a toddler I'd imagine that this would not be easy or doable unless he's having a nap or I work in the evenings.
If it's for a month then I guess DH and I could alternate taking annual leave off, 2 weeks each.
If nurseries are still open then happy days, business as usual for us.

I work in my kids school so that would be ok.

OH can also WFH...in fact he is being told to bring his laptop home daily now in case they decide to close the office.

I’ll happily stay at home ! (I’m a nurse)

One of the early Covid threads included a statement about government measures kicking in once we got to 100 cases. Which when we had 9 (and only in returning travellers) seemed a really distant prospect.

It's raced up

I think getting older teens off school to babysit nearby DC who are too young to be left might get be a good solution.

One issue we'd need to reflect on is whether food delivery services are going to be affected because drivers have children too.

I would struggle. I can and do work from home but no way I could do it unless family stepped in to help with childcare if nurseries were closed.

For the countries where schools are closed, I assume that includes International Schools so would that already be impacting students who will be taking GCSEs and A-Levels?

Stop spreading fear.

Like any recent outbreak, it will dissolve itself.

of course, Ebola was not important cos it was in West Africa

As long as it was just schools not total lockdown , as husband is self employed , we would be fine as I’m a SAHM . I love the kids being home , neither has important exams this year , so the thought of no school run is appealing - as long as we aren’t ill of course.

I'm a supply teacher, so I'd be, well... skint.

DD is a teenager and can't wait. She's been wanting a snow day for years, but it never happened. This would be like making up for lost time.

I work at a school so this would be lovely for me!
You didn’t say you’re a teacher, but I would hope that teachers continue to work from home, providing teaching online or via email or recorded teaching, setting work and marking work via email.
That’s how the Chinese are handling it.
They say this virus is turning into the biggest remote working exercise ever, be it teaching, studying at home or working from home.

To be honest it would be a struggle for us because we can’t work from home, but my mum could help.

I'd be ok as my workplace would close if the schools closed since there would be no need for school meals. I wouldn't be looking after other people's children if it got to that level as one of mine is immunodeficient so we'd be battening down the hatches.

DH and I are both teachers. We both teach subjects with practical elements, so online teaching would be especially challenging - especially while helping 8yo with whatever work she'd been set and looking after 2yo (assuming nursery also closes). But at least we would have less childcare challenges than if we had other jobs.

International schools that are sitting GCSE’s are affected currently. Teachers are setting work using the online portal.

Schools are being closed to protect adults because most children under 15 are considered low risk for getting any complications.

DH and I would be fine as we both travel for work but WFH regularly too.

The DC would be fine as they're not in vitally important years and both schools have online portals so would likely set work through those.

I've taught for 7 years too, so am happy setting some work for them and keeping friends locally up to date with some work if needed.

Currently doing supply so would be potentially made homeless! No work no money!

Dh is a teacher so as long as they don't make him go into an empty school, we should manage.

He doesn't do well at staying indoors so god help us if we have to keep indoors for longer than 24hours.

I'm SAHM and DH can WFH very easily so we'd be fine. I'd take in other children of friends who will be buggered without childcare.

I'd take in other children of friends who will be buggered without childcare

I suspect if nurseries, universities and schools all close, there are enough adults to muddle through and help out a large number of NHS worker friends with childcare so they can work. I certainly would.