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?

WFH anyway.

But schools closing is my worst nightmare.

What will it achieve. How many parents would be broken stuck indoors with their kids for god knows how long.

As much as I love them, they go stir crazy and it really wouldn't be good for my mental health, and will do them no good whatsoever

Ozzie.
I definitely wouldn't be carting my dc to others homes.

We would very easily dramatically cut down our exposure risk.
We shop on line, have garden space, lots to do in house and I'd take them out to cycle or scooter in woods on paths and do things without using the cafe etc.

I can work from home but I'm not sure they'd let me knowing theres a 5yo to care for. Grandparents might help but they're worried about the virus so would probably want to stay home safely.

I can't wfh so would either have to be off or take dd into work with me

I’m in Italy and can wfh. DD has been off school for 10 days already (we are in Milan) and is fed up and wants to go back. Her school is very organised (secondary) and work has been set online and the teachers are available on Skype or teams at certain times to go over set tasks and homework, if required.

Where I live the local church has offered to open their recreation centre to take in the children who are off school (like they do in the summer holidays) but they have been banned from doing so as it would be the same as being at school in terms of contagion risk.

There is also talk of making public employees wfh, meaning council offices, social security offices, tax offices will all be shut. That really is madness.

One thing being touted at the moment, in order to help those unable to work and earn in this period, is a mortgage holiday imposed on the banks and a tax break for loss of earnings. The last date for declaring taxes has now moved to September from June, although you can claim sooner if you’re due a rebate. Not sure about utilities and other payments though, maybe there will be help for low earners.

But random isn't being stuck at home with whilst ill even more of a nightmare?. Or all of you ill at the same time?

You can still go out just do different things. Perhaps your not able to but being ill with small dc is my nightmare.

Melassa, that sounds so comprehensive.

Mortgage breaks and perhaps rent breaks.

The deep financial upheaval of all of that however compared to simply closing schools for a couple of weeks!

@ChristmasFlint Well shame on them for saying they wouldn't look after NHS workers kids. Unless you want to just let everyone who falls seriously ill die people are going to have step up for the families of NHS workers.

In some ways I agree. Equally though I can see their point - if the situation is so serious that schools have to be closed then asking them to put themselves (and their kids) in a position that school staff aren't expected to be in is unfair. Especially as they are volunteers. We're always as flexible as possible for people so they do more than their bit normally.

There's no chance any of the high cost childcare facilities locally will stay open. They've already been very clear they'll be closing at first hint of local outbreaks.

I can't help, but feeling that this is where the fact that so many kids don't go to their local school is going to show up as being a bad thing. If the kids all went local then there would be less movement and schools could stay open longer.

I'm a teacher so presumably if our schools are closed, I'm also off! So fine here.

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

Do teachers get given laptops/homeworking setups that would facilitate this?

I work in a University so would have it easier than many.

As an NHS nurse I would be expected to be at work. As a mum of three children I have no idea who would look after my three children if they close the schools/nurseries.

I already wfh so would be fine, I reckon the govt are hoping to keep delaying the virus until the schools have their Easter break, they were saying yesterday it could peak in around 6 weeks which would fit in nicely.

I know Spring, it’s madness! It did start as an aid to businesses that were losing money, like shops and B&Bs in tourist areas, but it will be extended to those who can’t work if schools are shut. No doubt though the threshold will be ridiculously low in order to qualify, so realistically how many people will it help?

The tax breaks are mainly for businesses and self employed, but I suspect it will be the same tax payment delayed to later rather than eradicated. Or maybe you can claim an extra credit on the declaration instead of waiting the following year. We will see!

Off school for two months and then off again for 6/7 weeks in summer 😳

The dates for the school closures are also so random, from the 5th to the 15th. What will it achieve?

Childcare wouldn't be an issue as I'm a SAHM but DH is a teacher and we don't have a computer at home (intentionally, as it forces him to get all his planning completed using school computers before coming home rather than doing it late into the evenings) so if he was expected to set work for his classes from home they'd have to provide us with a laptop. Also not sure how he'd get any work done with our very lively feral toddler and small baby around. I'd love to see him skyping a class while the 3yo wrestles with him, probably while shouting something about poo-poo

Spring I don't think them sitting on front of Tv watching Netflix while i work 9 - 5 will do them any good.

If schools are shut to prevent spread then what can i do to keep them amused - when I'm not working that is?

Really i don't see how it benefits anything.

Its spread so much that shutting a school for 2 weeks will only delay

Shutting schools certainly helped in China. Dd has been off from 23rd January - holiday and virus shutdown.
School has set online learning for every subject.

Thankfully I’m a teacher so if the schools are shut childcare for me would be sorted. DH will have to go to work regardless (emergency services). Chances are if it all goes to shite DCS and I will decamp to my DP’s house in the countryside (massive garden, tonnes of outside space to run around etc) and I’d look after my sister’s kids there for her so she can work. I’d have WiFi and my laptop and would be able to set work. I already have google classroom and online portals to be able to set work. Have already marked all my GCSE and A level coursework (for once I’m well ahead of the game with that) and it would just be a case of sorting out paperwork and I could submit it from home. My GCSE and A level kids have covered the whole course and are now just revising anyway. It’s the most organised I’ve ever been, maybe I had a premonition

I'd love to know if Conte and co have also find the much beloved Magic Money Tree. Because the half assed tinpot promises being spouted on Italian TV and in the press today certainly imply they have.

Can't wait for my bills to be cut and my rent to be paid. By a government which is all but bankrupt anyway.

If I’m on the computer setting work for my class, then my three children won’t be able to use the computer to do any online work they’re set.

Maybe my school (who can’t afford pencils due to government cuts) will provide us all with laptops...

The thing is this isn't a situation where if we don't do it there is the same outcome as if we don't. If it's not contained, if we allow the virus uncontrolled spread, a similar or greater amount of people will be off sick as would be off if the schools shut - except instead of just being home with their kids - maybe able to WFH - they'd be sick too. Kids will get sick - they might not get seriously ill or die, but they'll be sick and off school. Teachers will get sick so there won't be teachers to teach them.

Surely it's better to have 2 weeks hardship now (and I can't believe the government will allow companies to get away with denying leave if they've taken the decision) versus a much worse pandemic. They're not doing this for laughs in Italy, they're only doing it because they think it's the only option to prevent large numbers of people dying.

I am sure a lot of NHS workers have family or existing childcare who can help (the NHS doesn't only operate in school hours so they'll already need childcare), but if not, I am sure lots of friends would help and in a last case scenario the Government will again have to step in. NHS workers getting to work has to be the priority here for everyone. I am a SAHM and I would happily look after an NHS workers child or two too to prevent the vulnerable members of my family who will likely die if they catch this disease (I do know some NHS workers and if it comes to it I will be offering although their grandparents already do a lot of childcare so they may prefer that). It's not rocket science. This is unprecedented. The reason many countries have closed schools is because the experts in disease control have told them this is the only thing to do to prevent massive infection on a scale that will cripple the health service and lead to mass fatality. They really wouldn't do it if they felt there were any other options.

2 weeks would not be enough. The infections would continue.

And if childcare is shared etc, and you look after other people's kids- how is that different to schools.

So you close down everything essentially for 2 weeks - when it's not even that bad.

And then a handful of infections sneak through. And start the cycle over again.

When does it end?

If I thought schools closing for 2 weeks would stop corona virus then I would support it.

I don't and I am guessing the Govt don't either

It’s not just NHS workers who are impacted. There are many many organisations that still need to function, mine included. I can’t be off just because the schools are.

And like magic we have ported over time a Coronavirus topic.