It’s never going to happen is it?

[MyDcAreMarvel]

The schools are not going to close are they, at all. Just seen on bbc news they are passing emergency legislation so that when teachers go off sick the remaining teachers can teach large class sizes. That and the law to force head teachers to keep schools open.
The government are determined to ensure as many children as possible are infected whilst isolating the elderly.
I wish I lived in a country where I could feel safer.

Lulu one more under health and safety if no decent bathroom facilities in some with no soap/loo roll.

Other countries have managed the balance, we are so up to our eyeballs in maths models I'm sure the clever scientists can work out how to keep schools open with Skelton staff.

To be honest I wouldn't mind doing the odd day in our local school, volunteering.. I have a dbs check!

As long as I didn't have to get up close...

Black imagine that.

To only place in the UK forcing our children at the front line of a daily mass gathering!

@WhiteCat1704 What has Eton School - which is in America by the way - got to do with anything?

@middleager
The secondary schools round here have told all students to make sure they have logins sorted for email and the various apps that they use. Teachers will email assignments. No idea how or if kids will get any video teaching.

Miggins other places are doing it for weeks at a time.

Also even if teens did meet outside its better than bloody cramped schools.

Re the... Well grandparents will be put at risk having to care for the children....

Gp already do school runs! They are already being put at risk. Gp are also teachers and school worker's!!

Also those that might be able to do childcare are... At liberty to say no and their kids won't want them at risk anyway. So so condescending.

I think they will close, but after Easter until September. They want more of the population to get it first, and no pint shutting schools for 4 weeks.

I think the schools will stay open until Easter then they'll decide whether the kids return or not after that.

What has Eton School - which is in America by the way - got to do with anything

I think - at this point, and after several posts expressing similar total bafflement - that it's pretty obvious the pp made an innocent mistake and assumed it meant Eton in the UK.

*I think UK schools will close, but not for a couple of weeks.... and only when case and death rates in the UK outstrip those in countries that are now quarantining, and real-life horror stories abound as the NHS implodes. The reality will dawn on the UK public that their Government is putting them at immediate risk like no other in the world and the demands to be protected like other countries will become unstoppable.

Herd immunity may (or may not) scientifically be ultimately be the best and only way to deal with COVID-19 but in the face of a mounting death rate in the UK in the coming weeks that begins to eclipse all other countries who are looking to contain the virus, it is likely to become politically impossible.

It may not turn out this way, but if I were a betting person, I’d wager a money on Whitty, Valance and Hancock out of their jobs by Easter.

I have no idea of it will happen or not. But my kids are not going in. I suspect a lot of kids will not be in school on Monday.

Herd immunity is total bollocks with a quick mutating virus. It only works with things like measles that stay the same for a long time

Repeating scare stories when you have no understanding of the subject matter is irresponsible. Sorry for singling you out, but this forum has become ridiculous because so many others are doing the same thing.

www.livescience.com/coronavirus-mutations.html

edition.cnn.com/2020/03/07/health/coronavirus-mutations-analysis/index.html

I think UK schools will close, but not for a couple of weeks.... and only when case and death rates in the UK outstrip those in countries that are now quarantining, and real-life horror stories abound as the NHS implodes. The reality will dawn on the UK public that their Government is putting them at immediate risk like no other in the world and the demands to be protected like other countries will become unstoppable.

Herd immunity may (or may not) scientifically be ultimately be the best and only way to deal with COVID-19 but in the face of a mounting death rate in the UK in the coming weeks that begins to eclipse all other countries who are looking to contain the virus, it is likely to become politically impossible.

I think this is exactly how it will happen.

Also if you believe what the government says about herd immunity (I don't), only 60% need to get it to stop the virus. So why would you put your kids in the 60%. Take them out and if you believe Boris they will never get it.

@AngelicaKauffman The virus has already mutated once.

The Lycée has announced that it's suspending all lessons from Monday.

Basically look after your own family. Make decisions that you think will keep you all safe, Don't sit around and wait for the government to tell you what to do.

@AngelicaKauffman The virus has already mutated once

That's under debate but even so, not unexpected or surprising. Jut read the first link I posted. RNA viruses mutate a lot. Doesn't usually mean anything. Just sounds scary when people who don't understand these things say it and post it online and publish it in tabloid press.

I think UK schools will close, but not for a couple of weeks.... and only when case and death rates in the UK outstrip those in countries that are now quarantining, and real-life horror stories abound as the NHS implodes. The reality will dawn on the UK public that their Government is putting them at immediate risk like no other in the world and the demands to be protected like other countries will become unstoppable.

Herd immunity may (or may not) scientifically be ultimately be the best and only way to deal with COVID-19 but in the face of a mounting death rate in the UK in the coming weeks that begins to eclipse all other countries who are looking to contain the virus, it is likely to become politically impossible.

I think this is exactly how it will happen.

I can't bold, but me too.

The government are determined to ensure as many children as possible are infected whilst isolating the elderly.
I wish I lived in a country where I could feel safer

See this sounds logical to me. Isolate the most vulnerable while the least vulnerable become immune then close the schools and hopefully the two groups can mix safely

How are people planning to cope on a practical level if their children are at home with them for three to four months, there is no childcare to enable them to work and there's no potential to access parks, playgrounds, cafes attractions etc?

@AngelicaKauffman I don't need to read your link, I have read all about how the virus has already mutated once. Please don't patronise me by assuming I don't understand what that means.
What it means is we do not know enough about this virus. The mutation could be minor and meaningless or more serious. We don't know if the mutated version has a higher mortality rate or not. We don't know if the virus will mutate again. Basically what we know about this virus is nowhere near enough to devise a theory on herd immunity, test it out on a large population and in the process let half a million people die.

Actually just opened your link. Even your link says the other scientists say the conclusions being made about the mutation are pure speculation. That is true.

I have a child doing GCSEs . I am either going to have to take both children out, or rent somewhere to live alone for a month, as I am at increased risk and need to isolate now.

Ican tell you at the schools I work at that statement is categorically untrue. We have compiled details of these families and worked with them. What they want for their children has been accommodated without question.
@TSSDNCOP that’s good to hear , but it’s sadly not happening across the board.

@lolawasashowgirl We have no idea if it will be 2 months or 4 months. I am just planning to take it a week at a time.
There will come a time when there are still cases, but very few cases. I may send them back before cases have stopped altogether, if the risks are low.
I am wfh, so childcare is fine. My employer has everyone wfh starting Monday. A lot of firms we work with are doing the same with only essential staff on premises. I know not everyone can do that, DP can't.

I hope this is correct my DH has a lung condition and is working from home but our kids still need to be in school

lightandshade is that what DH's doctor has advised? Does he realise the DC are still in school?

That seems odd as all the people I know who have been told to isolate because of their own medical vulnerability are completely isolated along with their household.