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Is it really likely the schools will close?

495 replies

sqirrelfriends · 11/03/2020 17:04

I've seen a few comments on other threads about schools and other childcare settings closing indefinitely to prevent the spread of Covid 19. Do you really think it's likely to happen?

OP posts:
Balkinfly · 11/03/2020 23:31
Hmm
Glaciferous · 11/03/2020 23:42

There is loads of evidence that shutting schools and using social distancing measures works. And this is well worth a read (long but really interesting and well thought out): medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

Purplewhitelie · 11/03/2020 23:43

Yes it works. It’s a proven model to follow.

jewel1968 · 11/03/2020 23:47

jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/208354

Some analysis of the effectiveness of school closure during the flu pandemic in 1918. Pretty persuasive.

ZombieFan · 12/03/2020 00:11

Looked at both those links and neither are peer reviewed scientific journals. Neither explain the chances of a future peak is you suppress the current one.

So got anything a bit more sensible?

LuluJakey1 · 12/03/2020 00:15

DH is a Head in a secondary school and is expecting to be told tomorrow to close until at least after Easter hols.

SpokeTooSoon · 12/03/2020 00:56

Personally I think it’s madness to close schools. How are people supposed to continue to go to work? It seems to be it will cause immediate panic and chaos.

Parker231 · 12/03/2020 01:44

We discussed school closures at work today and for those you need to come into the office, they can bring the DC’s and they can watch DVD’s in a meeting room and it will be the parents responsibility to check on them. Will probably work ok in the short term for school aged DC’s but for pre schoolers the parents will need to be at home which is likely to cause us problems.

corvidsagainstcovid · 12/03/2020 03:17

My DCs have been told the contingency plans for gcse students for online working. I think we'll be told today they are closing, I won't be at work and will shut the doors and not be hosting any other children.

corvidsagainstcovid · 12/03/2020 03:18

Will probably work ok in the short term for school aged DC’s but for pre schoolers the parents will need to be at home which is likely to cause us problems.

Pre schoolers aren't in school so obviously schools closing won't have an impact.

Savemefromthis4 · 12/03/2020 06:29

@spoketosoon

I do get where you are coming from. The government need to pay people despite not being able to go in. I think rbs for example will not charge for your mortgage payment etc. So there are bits and pieces in place. Without a doubt certain people, public services, drs and nurses, pharmacy's, vets, food chains, factories that produce food, farmers (many more I'm sure) will have to carry on. But at least in many situations by limiting crowds it might help get rid of this virus as the summer arrives. I think october-march is always the peak time for norovirus and every cold and flu you can imagine. So hopefully if a couple of weeks of inconveince is placed on people it will help.

The loss of life is something we can't just carry on ignoring. Eventually it will kill a child in the UK. Eventually it will kill someone below 70. Also it gives them more time to get a vaccine against it. Then hopefully next year it will all be forgotten.

It is crazy to think of the world stopping for this virus. It's far from ideal. But we don't want multiple deaths. We don't want people in critical condition.

China has had to do it. Italy has had to do it. That's why China is finally getting it under control. The fact they built extra hospitals etc shows how much of a strain it would put on our already struggling NHS. There's a programme called hospital on at the moment. It's currently filmed in Merseyside. It's a huge eye opener. I mean we know already there are a shortage of beds. But to see the daily struggle the staff have. They can't cope with several hundred people needing a bed for this. It's so scary.

Also I don't think the government have been clear on enough. Not to mention GPS can't see people for weeks now as it is. We can't cope with a huge demand like this. What are parents supposed to do when they are on bed with coronavirus but have young children in the house. Knowing those young children will also get poorly. It's a horrible though. Especially on a virus that's new and we don't really know what this does to us yet. It could make people people have chest problems for life. Who knows. If they can do something to control it then they should. Starting with children is a good place. The fact my child was never at ore school due to the constant viruses. She's now at school and still on average gets a virus once a month. It's halved but the kids are forced coughing before school. It's a huge germ spreading place.

MrsPworkingmummy · 12/03/2020 06:37

I've posted on this thread already, but my husband's school gathered all leaders for an emergency meeting yesterday: schools will be closing. Easter holidays will be extended for at least 2 weeks. They are just waiting for the government message stating when from exactly.

MrsPworkingmummy · 12/03/2020 06:39

× further to the above, it is likely gcses will be delayed or predicted grades used. Staff have had to put files of work onto one drive so that students can access materials from home.

BeardedMum · 12/03/2020 06:41

Lots of countries closing schools including Denmark.

Butterwhy · 12/03/2020 07:15

I reckon there might be an announcement today after the meeting, I don't have any insight just a feeling.

Skyejuly · 12/03/2020 07:17

Mrsp my husbands job had a similar meeting which worried me because they seem to be implying the school will get closed but have not 'said it directly'

Parker231 · 12/03/2020 09:09

@corvidsagainstcovid - they won’t be in school but if nurseries also close, their parents will need to be off work caring for them. It’s easier to take a five year old into work with you than a 16 month old.

peachescariad · 12/03/2020 09:12

Secondary school here - yes highly likely to close....preparations underway already...
Needs to happen now to delay spread as can not longer contain it.

Cornettoninja · 12/03/2020 09:25

I think they should reschedule the summer six week break to now and the two week Easter break time summer. It wouldn’t be ideal but it would be something.

It might end up just being lip service but at least it would provide an element of people being able to plan their lives and take some reassurance that their child’s exams etc have a back up plan. It also adds a semblance of normality to the situation if it’s just a rejigging of recognised breaks.

GinNotGym19 · 12/03/2020 09:26

I honestly don’t think schools will close they aren’t even deep cleaning them here with confirmed or suspected cases.
We have a suspected case, school confirmed that they aren’t doing any extra cleaning, stopped updating us and the child isn’t being tested until next week even though they’ve had symptoms since Monday. They are isolating now but was in school Monday with symptoms and have been to an area. Hopefully they haven’t got it!
2 other schools I know with parents of students having confirmed corona aren’t doing any cleaning either.
They said phe have told them they don’t need to!

TweetUsOnFacebook · 12/03/2020 09:28

Cornettoninja that sounds sensible. Lots of people will have issues with travel plans in the summer holidays though but maybe schools will think about authorising already booked holidays.

MegaClutterSlut · 12/03/2020 09:32

We've had an email from dds secondary school saying if there is 1 case of Coronavirus in school, the whole school will shut down. I live in the SE

Kuponut · 12/03/2020 09:34

I've kept one of mine off today - she's a streaming ball of snot and cough (so I'm very confident it's just a crappy cold) but I think the last thing school need right now is someone spreading anything unnecessary around our awesome staff when we're about to take a hell of a battering.

notangelinajolie · 12/03/2020 09:53

DD's school is closing. It's not been announced yet.

maa1992 · 12/03/2020 09:56

I don't think they will, but who knows

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