DCs school has coronavirus and they’re not shutting the school!?

[Hdbeksnxbkxdnk]

My DCs school has had a confirmed case of coronavirus. One of their teachers who has been in school and has taught both DC this week!!!
School isn’t shutting! The DCs have been given information about the virus and symptoms to look out for.
This is really scaring me! Any of those DCs and other teachers could have it. Any of them could have gone home and passed it onto parents/grandparents/people who go to the same clubs in the community! I know it doesn’t really affect children as much as adults but doesn’t mean they can’t be carriers. We’re not exactly talking young children either. Both my DCs are teenagers.

Debating keeping the DC off school for the next 2 weeks? Am I overreacting!?

Sorry just seen the report , definite case...it's kids at home then for sure!

Keep them off and contact your MP, ring your GP etc and tell them what’s going on

How far do you take this though? Is it like chickenpox? That it's too late to self isolate as your kids have possibly already been exposed to it? Do you then self-isolate the whole family? Do you and DH tell work that everyone there must also self isolate in case you or DH has it?
I can see why the government (well actually, it's the CMO) is making these decisions.

I can't believe schools are not using their virtual learning environments to post lessons and tasks that everyone could complete in a classroom or at home. By this stage of the year, it's starting to be mostly revision towards GSCE/A level or consolidation tasks anyway. We have the technology, and certainly everyone on MN has the technology. Where the broadband isn't fast enough to simulcast a lesson, at the minimum, every lesson plan with tasks and resources links should be posted online. If nothing else, looking for things to plagiarise will teach research skills.

I’m not happy with him going if I’m honest. But then the problem comes. If I keep one off I have to keep both off. I can’t try and protect one by avoiding placing them in the environment and then let the other just walk into the environment I’m tying to avoid. If I do that they both may as well go to school.
It’s either both go or both don’t. I’m leaning very heavily towards no school.

How long would you keep them off for?

I expect a lot of people won't be sending their children in. I would keep them off for at least the rest of the week to be honest.

Here is a copy of the letter we got last week:

Dear Parents and Carers
We are now receiving daily updates from Public Health England about the impact of Coronavirus and the actions we should be taking in schools. There is now a greater risk of the virus spreading throughout the UK and Public Health England and other government departments are preparing for a range of scenarios.
The current advice to schools is that they remain open and that all children and staff should attend as normal. Schools are not required to close, even if children or staff present symptoms in line with those associated with the illness. The Department for Education has made it very clear that schools can only close if directed to do so by Public Health England If any school within the Midsomer Norton Schools’ Partnership are required to close, you will be notified in the usual manner, but also via the MNSP web site – www.midsomernortonschoolspartnership.com
The most effective action we can all take is to wash our hands more regularly and for longer periods of time. This basic action is thought to reduce the spread of the virus by up to 80%. I have sent posters home from Public Health England and had them displayed in all schools to remind children, staff and visitors to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly.
If the advice changes and schools within the (Name of schools) Schools’ Partnership are required to close, we will be providing learning resources via Google Classroom or through work packs. We also plan to deliver key learning topics via Skype or through other forms of digital media, so that examination groups in secondary schools can continue to receive some teacher support with their learning.
Thank you for your support to date. Yours sincerely

That was to the group of schools locally in the same trust

I could have done this as a geriatric student teacher a decade ago, so please spare me the line about it being too difficult. If a school population has to be quarantined, while the premises are sanitised, then at least the learning/revision doesn't stop.

Its meant to peak in the next week or so. Based on that probably a week at least and reassess? I think that’s sensible?
I know I’m not the only one at our school panicking now. There’s a lot of parents asking similar questions. I’ve had a few messages asking what I’m doing tomorrow.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/10/coronavirus-is-mysteriously-sparing-kids-killing-elderly-understanding-why-may-help-defeat-virus/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
Interesting read.

If it was me I would probably keep them off for two weeks especially as one has lowered immunity. If that was OK.

But how long do you keep the kids off school?

People need to realise that this virus isnt going away. If you close the schools, when do you open them? It will just keep coming back around.

Unless we ground all flights worldwide, and stop all movement all over the world for a month then we're not going to get rid of it. Its going to be just like the flu; it will keep going round. People need to just learn constant vigilance when it comes to hand hygiene and covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing etc.

They will make a vaccine, just like the flu, but until then everyone just needs to keep their hands clean and mouth covered if you're coughing. It's really only dangerous if you're elderly or have other health conditions, just like the flu.

That is an absolute joke. I'm in a city in Poland, we have under 50 cases, yet they have closed many schools and universities. The government are being exceptionally selfish in the UK. Even if one child has been infected they will pass it to the next and then all children will bring it home to their parents.

@Weregoingonanadventure this isn't preventative though, there has been a confirmed case who has been in fairly close confines with a large group who may be carriers and able to pass it on with mild symptoms (so would continue going into school); every other school with a case has been closed for deep cleaning and closed for 2 weeks. I think it's sensible to have 2 weeks off personally.

Is your dc in an exam year @Hdbeksnxbkxdnk?

Keep them off, strange how they are not closing the school even to do a deep clean.
Even work places in scotland are closing down when people have it.

@Weregoingonanadventure the longer we delay the spread the closer we will be to finding a vaccine.

I think a lot of people are thinking about how things will affect them, personally, in the short term.

Of course the economy will suffer, but I'd rather than wiping out 50% of over 65's.

It has really not been made clear to parents what to do in this situation

Told to self isolate if come into contact with a case

Told to keep sending children in even if had contact with a case

How can we know what to do?

Have they been clear on cases involving children. I have noticed nothings been in the media about children having it.

I think more needs to be done. They should be giving parents a choice. Even if a kids healthy. They might have parents or siblings with a range of health problems. Plus do we really want this virus infecting our children.

It is becoming a concern. Surely it's better to act now for a few weeks. If they got their heads together properly (Boris and co) they could close all schools from Thursday and arrange for work to go home with all pupils. Reading books, maths work sheets etc. Websites for learning could be suggested. That way the kids are still learning.

Yes I understand child care will be an issue for people. Yes I understand many still will work. But if we can get a huge proportion of people to stay home it will save lives!

It will be a huge problem at this rate. People don't deserve to die because they already are unwell. That doesn't justify someone dying aged 70. They could of live 15 more years if this sodding virus didn't get hold. We only get one life. It's not fair at all.

I have been pretty relaxed up until now. But now I think they are making it up as they go along. They don't care about us. Boris gets to choose when we can protect our families. I read earlier an ex minister told him he should be closing schools etc now. But he obviously hasn't listened.

It's frightening. Also if we catch coronavirus who's going to look after our young children. If it's worse than flu or as bad we still would struggle to care for the kids. Ive never had flu in my life. There's definitely a bigger threat with this.

If my child had an underlying condition I would take them out.
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I get the feeling that our government hasn't got a clue how to react.

It seems highly irresponsible to not even deep clean a school where there has been a confirmed case.

DD brought a letter home from school from Public Health England and I quote:

"Most people need to make no change to their normal daily lives".

This letter was dated 9th March and also went on to say "Anyone who is identified as a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the UK and who needs to take action will be contacted directly by Public Health England and given individual advice".

I wonder how this applies to a school where a teacher is confirmed as having the virus. Have any of the children/parents been contacted by Public Health England as far as you know OP?

My hope is that they are on top of the situation but I am far from convinced.

I think the fact your ds has an auto immune disease and the teacher is confirmed not just suspected on covid then you need to keep your biy off. Your reasoning with your other son is also spot on imo. You need to keep him away also. Apparently (and hope if my next statement is incorrect someone please correct) the symptoms can show within 5 days as an average.

You need to keep him away for at least the rest of the week imo. If you are fined then you also need to appeal that.

If you think about it though, unless in reception, do teachers actually some into close contact with children? I suppose they do. But is it similar to say contact with a family member or friend, 1 to 1?

Wonder if there might be advice for teachers to stay apart from DC or something in future. Difficult