Is it really likely the schools will close?

[sqirrelfriends]

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?

Some charities are gearing up to feed vulnerable children. I suppose this won’t help all of them.

We were talking to our dds about this, they are 13 and 11 and said that if/when schools closed it would also involve not going out much. “Well, obviously, said dd1 and dd2 wasn’t surprised either.

I don’t think they’ll sit at home virtuously, they’ll wind each other up and we’ll all go nuts, but they won’t be going to shopping centres and McDs.
It probably won’t be long before most things shut down except essentials.

Yes, my kids would get bored but that's a price worth paying to protect the more vulnerable.

I can't believe many parents would allow their kids to go into any town or restaurant when they're meant to be at home. That's the whole point of closing schools!!

If the parents are at work, I can’t imagine many teenagers staying at home when they could be out meeting with their friends.

Our contingency is to set work for an hour as if following our timetable.

If the parents are at work, I can’t imagine many teenagers staying at home when they could be out meeting with their friends.

Ive got teens and would like to think that they'd understand the importance of not going into town to see their friends. They can communicate online, play games together online etc. And they'll hopefully want to do some revision ahead of A level exams.

If the parents are at work, I can’t imagine many teenagers staying at home when they could be out meeting with their friends.

I think in that case we'd end up with total lockdown like they had to in Italy when people didn't listen.
Maybe Police and soldiers to keep them in line if parents are incapable.

Let son and his friends have been talking about this. They are 16 and taking it really seriously. Discussing how Boris is wrong and what other countries had been doing. Talking about how they would stay home if they had to to help.

I know a few teens who have volunteered to childmind the dc if the schools are closed so that me and DH can continue working. What a great idea.

I love the way people say ‘oh find alternative childcare’ yeh just as easy as that I work in a school and I’m hoping it closes as at the moment childcare is split between my parents and nursery, nursery have no space to up their hours but I don’t want my parents to have the kids in this situation.

It’s not easy to find alternative childcare at the drop of a hat! If my school closes I will be offering to look after other children so parents can continue to work

Given the huge rises today and the deaths doubling, I am now really worried about the government forcing schools to stay open. I just do not understand this thought process. It is as if Boris is obsessed with keeping schools open at all costs, ignoring the welfare of both adults who work there and the families of the children. The government admit that kids can have the virus without symptoms. Yes, I could self isolate for a week but a) I shouldn't have to lie to protect myself and b) what happens after a week?
Forcing schools to stay open seems like madness.

I think the aim is that if schools close both pupils and parents should really avoid others and stay at home, thereby helping to reduce the virus spreading.

I know it's not ideal, but it is probably worth it to save lives!

Look at Italy.

Maybe Police and soldiers to keep them in line if parents are incapable.

Yes.

Forcing schools to stay open seems like madness.

Unless you understand that they
A) want some people to get it
B) would prefer that those people are kids who are far less affected by it than others
C) accept that once schools are closed, they won’t be opening again any time soon so want to shorten the necessary closures as much as they can.
D) don’t want kids to be shipped off to grandparents
E) Don’t want nurses and doctors and other frontline workers to have to take time off work to look after their kids.

@Poppydaisies yep that’s all nurses and healthcare professionals such as myself included then, I haven’t got alternative childcare

But we don't want most kids to get it n quick succession. The aim is to delay the spread. School closures would help delay the spread.

Otherwise we'll be in a worse situation than either Wuhan or Italy!

) Don’t want nurses and doctors and other frontline workers to have to take time off work to look after their kids.

They don't only work 9-3. Who has the kids then? Grand parents?

Poppydaisies yep that’s all nurses and healthcare professionals such as myself included then, I haven’t got alternative childcare

But perhaps the decrease in transmission by everyone staying home is larger than the rise in cases with schools open? In other words the staying at home and isolation might overcompensate the rise in cases who need hospital treatment?

My DC’s are older but friends with school age DC’s, use breakfast and after school club. If schools close, they would be off work regardless of their job. Not everyone has alternative childcare.

I wonder how other countries with school closures are managing?

But we don't want most kids to get it n quick succession.

Why not? They rarely show anything other than mild symptoms and aren’t the ones filling up the ICUs.

Shutting schools would delay the spread. But they want more of a spread before implementing that measure otherwise there’s a second peak risk once schools reopen.

Shutting schools would delay the spread. But they want more of a spread before implementing that measure otherwise there’s a second peak risk once schools reopen.

Yes but not as high. I do agree with timing is the key but that's rapidly approaching.

I don't want my colleagues to be ill. I don't want my immuno compromised husband to catch it from me and then not be treated because he is over 60 and has had cancer so isn't particularly well.
School staff should not be regarded as expendable just to keep schools open.

Why do you think a second peak would be not as high, Jane?

That was only true for swine flu because they developed a vaccine.

Why do you think a second peak would be not as high, Jane?

That was only true for swine flu because they developed a vaccine.

That model that was the initial model.

May well be wrong.