Time to close the schools

[PaddyF0dder]

I can’t believe I’m saying this. I’m a dad to 3 very young boys. Our eldest is nearly 6 and is on the spectrum. Our twins are nearly 3. They’re hard work when they’re stuck in the house. I also work as a doctor in the NHS. Closing the schools would be a nightmare for us.

I think we need to do it, and do it early.

Watching how this virus is spreading, seeing how harmful it’s been in other countries, reading the stats on transmission, burned on healthcare etc... closing schools and nurseries really seems to be the most logical step.

The UK is at a turning point. We’re entering the stage of sustained transmission. We may already be too late. But we might still have time to enact draconian measures early as opposed to late. Closing school and nurseries. Limiting travel around the country. It seems inevitable that these things will happen, but doing it early might save the lives of the sick and vulnerable.

I honestly don’t know how my family will cope with it. We have absolutely no family support re childcare. We both work hard jobs in the NHS. I wish there was a better option. But the more I look at the facts of this outbreak, the more obvious it gets.

We need to reduce viral transmission. There are many ways, and all must be done. One such way is to close schools and nurseries. We need to do it now.

Completely agree @Gadgnkk

Sadly @Nearlyalmost50 I imagine when people are hoarding bog rolls and pasta for themselves the chances of them upping food bank donation is nil.

@Gadgnkk Get a grip

Other countries are closing schools and this is what our government have suggested...?!

The government have said they will make it legal to have bigger class sizes or for children in an affected school to go to another school

They know that total lockdown now, simply pushes the peak disease curve into next winter

I wondered if this would be an issue worst time would be now or back in next flu season and there still won't be a vaccine which is expected earliest12-18 months.

In Wales yr 10 and yr12 also sit GCSE and AS-levels in next few months.

My yr 10 has 7 GCSE exams coming up some first one final GCSE and while there certainly more scope to reschedule than for yr11 many of whom would be moving on to new Institutions or placements - there's already a packed yr 11 ahead with exams in Nov and January already. Then delayed A-level results will impact universities and their teaching and budgets.

Their teachers are parents as well so if some school close – they may very well not be available to teach – not to mention all other people who might not then be able to work.

I’d really rather the experts took this decision looking at all the variables and models of infection spreading to take these decisions at the best time rather than politicians react to public panic.

In mean time I hope institutions are planing like DH's university – which isn’t expecting to close but is asking lectures like DH to consider how they’d continue if they end up having to close.

Yes I know it’s serious yes I know measures need to be taken and we all need to be vigilant but as I said above I honestly think some people are just thriving on the drama and actually willing it to be the worst case scenario.

I agree that some people are enjoying the drama of this. You see it on the other thread where they gather for the 2pm 'daily numbers update' and then start whipping each other up into a frenzy because the update is a few minutes late, because its another thing to get dramatic about. And I can't help but think that some people wait for that update with a hope that it's going to be a significant rise, so that they 'oh my god, this is really worrying now, we were right all along, when are people going to wake up' posts can start.

rosehip exam delays concern me because exams are one of the biggest sources of stress and anxiety among young people and given we already have very concerning levels of mental health problems among our youth I worry that delays will exacerbate this. Simply saying to a 15 year old that everyone is on the same boat isn’t going to help him if he is already suffering adverse mental health rates partly due to exams.

But the economy is prized above people’s lives!

It’s not really that simple though is it. The economy needs to run to fund the NHS and pay for the treatment the sick need.

I do agree we should be taking advantage of our status as an island and closing borders though even for a couple of weeks and the government should foot the costs. It might save more money in the long run.

I also have sympathy for GCSE and A Level students whose exams may be affected. But with this current climate of mental health problems with teenagers and exam grades being everything, perhaps this might be a wake up call that in the scheme of things, they’re not so important after all.

The irony of keep voting in Conservative decimate public services governments.

The irony of taking for granted the already exhausted and demoralised staff from public services, and assuming that ‘it’ll be fine’.

It’s barely touched us so far and you can already feel those divides and dog-eat-dog behaviours coming to the fore.

Still, at least we won’t be overtaxed, eh?

It’s going to be bad, not because C19 is particularly bad (well, unless it mutates haha) but because our national mission is not geared at helping the most vulnerable. Now, suddenly, we’re all more vulnerable - either by health, support networks (no, supermarkets will not be able to keep up deliveries if all their van drivers go sick, or even half of them), or pure economics.

You are getting exactly what you voted for

pointless addict I disagree, there are lots of ways people can be nudged (through small ways) to give more- people donate more food if there's a food bank by the till, for example. Or they could be asked at the till or the supermarkets could be asked directly, or perishable food redirected more efficiently. Or government could top down give money to those families on a temporary basis.

If you are an impoverished family, you are going to be more at risk anyway- because you are more likely to be in precarious employment or not working, so for example, people are still having to go to the employment office to get their benefits/sign their job seeking allowance docs, whereas a lot of wealthier people are either working from home, or have generous sickness allowances/leave, or are in companies instigating home working. So, the temptation to keep working and keep sending your kids to school is going to be much higher if you are vulnerable/poor.

This won't be a fair virus.

But we can't actually do nothing on that basis.

She had a temperature for a day and a cough. Still has a cough too but is mostly fine now. Last two days I've had conjunctivitis too as well as cough etc. I decided to call 111 as I'm getting concerned that my illness isn't just the standard viral infection.

This infection has been doing the rounds amongst my DC and students at the school I work in too, it causes puffy, crusty eyes, sore throats, fever, cough, hopefully not coronavirus!

Italy closed schools but Milan airport is still open. Surely we'd be better off restricting international travel?

You’re obviously a nice person who will do that @Nearlyalmost50 sadly I think a lot of people are just selfish fucks

Mostly people are concerned for their loved ones who are vulnerable to a disease like this. I do think that some people have tipped over into panic but I think it is callous to suggest that they are being dramatic for effect.

Schools should not be treated as a childcare facility. Teaching staff do important work and the idea that they will have to teach extra children in understaffed schools is impossible. Teaching staff would have to self-isolate, it is only a matter of time. It would be best for the schools to close now until after the Easter holidays. They could therefore just re-open only for exams.

pmk

I suppose eeeyoresmiles it depends on whether your main concern is the virus eg if you are at risk of being severely impacted by it or your own kids. I do agree with the point on losing grandparents, sadly something mine are facing just now virus or no virus, sad

I know some people think they won't be severely impacted, but people should be aware that of the 'mild/moderate' cases of covid-19 they say 80% of infected people will get, about half (the 'moderate' ones) still involve being properly ill, some with pneumonia (just not bad enough to need oxygen or hospitalisation). I realise that there are lots of parents here who are under 30, 40 or 50 and might be feeling that it's no big deal to get the illness, and clearly closing schools is worse, but we need to understand that when the doctors talk about 'mild/moderate' they are not always talking about a bit of a sniffle you hardly notice. Lots of people will still be ill in bed at home, unable to care for children, potentially for weeks.

Not only that, but with hospitals completely overwhelmed with vulnerable coronavirus patients, all sorts of other routine and lifesaving things will be affected. You won't want to be having any other medical condition that needs treatment, even just a broken ankle, in the middle of a really uncontrolled explosion of coronavirus infections, even if your entire family is in a group that's less vulnerable to the coronavirus itself.

The knock on effects of an epidemic are huge in themselves. I don't think anyone really has the luxury of thinking the virus doesn't need to be their main concern - right now it needs to be everyone's main concern, because we're all going to be affected.

How are people going to pay rent/mortgage if they're not working?

There will simply not be enough money out there to fund the NHS and other essential services, compensate business to pay salaries and support those who will go bankrupt.

We have to hope that they are looking into the best ways of managing this with the least worst outcome.

PointlessAddict I agree, and that's why top down action is good, government payments. But people DO donate to food banks already so some are more considerate.

My point is- there's always going to be a 'but' in these scenarios- but what about...we aren't going to be able to take the kind of action needed to stop this virus. Children are out of school and schools closed 13 weeks a year so it must be possible to close schools! It wouldn't be a perfect solution at all, and I think there's an argument for not closing now, to keep workers working as long as possible and perhaps closing the week before Easter.

I agree that travel should have been addressed, it's actually ludicrous that people are going in and out and back here from at risk countries, although if we don't get a grip on this soon, we will be one of those countries!

Italy banned flights from China and has closed schools and also put in lockdown areas weeks ago and has the worst rate of infection in Europe.

It does not follow that banning travel or closing schools would have the desired effect.

Will we be closing shops and offices too? The shop I work at was heaving yesterday, could barely move. Surely this is a massive risk too?

Italy banned flights from China and has closed schools and also put in lockdown areas weeks ago and has the worst rate of infection in Europe.

They’ve only just closed all schools though-maybe the spread would have been less if they’d closed them earlier.

How long do you think they need to close for? Where are all the children going when parents work? Or should no one goto work aswell? How many child cases has there been? Seems adults get it a lot more than children silly idea not thought through properly

They closed their borders to China ages ago, before their current outbreak. Ironic really