To ignore BJ's COBRA advice to send kids to school whilst Rep of Ireland has closed schools for 2 weeks

[100percentSunshine]

Just interested to know how others feel....

We are all expecting the exponential growth of the Covid 19 to take place in the next 1- 2 weeks.

I was gobsmacked by today's news that following the COBRA meeting, BJ has resolved to keep schools open.

Is anyone considering keeping their child/ren off school despite government briefing?

What do u think u will achieve ?

Having listened to the experts at the press conference it made a lot of sense why the decision has been made to not shut schools at this point it wouldn’t be likely to do enough to slow the spread.

It’s a constantly changing situation but the decisions they make need to be based as best as they can on the facts and what they have been able to establish about the spread not jumping to solutions which are unlikely to help

No, there are specific reasons they are timing things the way they have. Timing is everything when trying to cope with a pandemic. Listen to what the Government's Chief Scientist said on this at the press conference at Downing Street this afternoon

No because the government are relying on sound scientific advice from people who track and understand the spread of viruses and have a lot more knowledge than the naysayers on Mumsnet have.

Have any of you watched the questions being answered by those in the know on the news or are you just reading the daily mail and reading mumsnet?

Yes, our children are staying home now.

The government is weighing up the advantages of closing schools (slowing the spread of the virus) against the disadvantages (reducing the available workforce, especially in the NHS, as people use schools for childcare).

They’ve decided that at present the advantages don’t outweigh the disadvantages.

But on an individual level, if you CAN take your children out without significant disruption to important work, then you should because you’ll help to slow down the virus.

Am not looking forward at all to home educating for however long this takes, but it’s the responsible thing to do.

No.

I said yabu but I’m surprised more didn’t say yanbu.

I can see why they keep them open for societal reasons but if you want to keep them off I wouldn’t say that was a wrong decision for you.

Thing with keeping your kids home OP is unless they are teenagers then somebody is going to have to stay at home to look after them. And it can't be elderly GPs as they would be at risk. So it's either younger GPs or parents and in many families these would all be working people.

No I won’t.

@8by8 will you be staying away from shops and public services as well ? And abstaining from visiting family?

@ssdrealistically use my pitence of savings, then I will probably take out an overdraft to tide us over IF and when it comes to that. We could manage a month at most. This is why I don't want to do it voluntarily now when I don't see the need.

I feel similarly. Was imagining how long we could last on savings but half of my (not v impressive) savings is in an ISA which is probably now worth about 10p because shares have tanked 😖😖
There are a lit of MN who have financially planned and a counted for the next 20 years. Unfortunately we are only just recovering from the recession of 2008 and I am scared to think what might happen!

Hi, we've moved this to our Coronavirus topic.

Unfortunately, not every one lives in the lala land of SAHP

SAHP live in lala land?

Kids don’t really get sick from CV anyway but they are probably carriers so just keep them away from immunocompromised family members.

I live in lala land! Yes, going to keep my 5 year old off. Like a pp said, I can make a difference on an individual level.

I think they are trying to delay. Easter is coming up My prediction is they will close a week before Easter hols.

@8x8 are you guys completely self isolating then or just taking an extra school break?

@8by8 Did you tell the school why the children aren't there and did they authorise it? Or have you told them they are unwell?

Considering taking DD out as of Monday. I'm a SAHM with a toddler, she's only 4 and it won't bother me to have her at home.

Yes we are also avoiding public places etc. It's a really hard one. I don't trust the government are making this decision based on welfare at an individual level but that's what I've got to do as a parent.

If 80% of the public will get the illness, if I can possibly be in the 20% I'd obviously prefer we didn't find out how bad this virus can be.

It's really hard and I don't know what to believe anymore. My husband is convinced that we need to isolate ourselves and has read that there are young people in ICU in Italy. Maybe the reason that the older demographic are dying is because they are putting all their efforts into treating the younger ones? It's the not knowing that makes it scary .

There's an awful lot of fake news going around and other countries have a completely different set of facts to work with. Arm yourself with our facts by watching the press conference from this evening, reading reputable sources and ignoring anything posted on facebook/daily mail/express.

The virus needs to go through the population in as slow a way as possible, if we simply try to stop it by stopping any movement, we will be battling against it for the next year and a half.

I could, because I work from home and they are old enough to look after themselves if I am around somewhere. Not going to though. Johnson is one of my least favourite people, I think this government is a shambles, but I agree with the decision they have made in this one case.

Why is everyone trusting and assuming the UK government is correct when it goes against what other countries have done? Why are our scientists and experts to be believed over ones from outside the UK?

I don't see the point because I've got to go to work so there's a chance I could bring it home. Unless the whole household is going to self isolate for a few weeks I don't see any benefits.

Yep!

My inclination is to keep DC home, but the school are yet to make it clear whether this will be permitted as an authorised absence.

I am reluctant as due to SEND issues, changes in routine create us a massive headache, but then there are the more serious health issues to consider as DC is in a vulnerable group. I am disgusted at the sheer inaction and disregard for the WHO and escalating numbers.

No because I will get fined and my boys may lose their school places which I had to work hard for them to get!

It's terrifying just waiting for people to start dying though. Really sickening.