Did I miss something in the press conference- school closures?

[souldivachakkakahn]

I listened. The only time closures warranted a mention was an aside for "maybe later" measures. Did I miss something?
Now, if keeping schools open is the best course of action, then ok. But the fact that so many people are anxious about kids going to school, there are petitions etc. How could they not dedicate some time to explain why the advice was not changing yet? People need information to make informed decisions.

Bloody hell.

Maybe instead of closing the schools the parents should be told they wont be penalised for taking their children out of school, that way those that want to keep their children home and safe can do so, there will be less children in school so less risk of spread, emergency workers children can continue to be schooled so they can work. I know its not ideal but its a compromise, it would also be important for the parents to ensure the children who are at home spend their time following the curriculum.

The government doesn't necessarily need to ban:

"The Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre have announced the closure of all its venues with immediate effect, following the government's press conference this afternoon"

The speed of reaction shows they were poised to take this step. So the behind-the-scenes discussions must be extensive.

The water bottle does NOTHING to explain exponential growth. Nothing at all. This government is planning on pouring a 7 million bucket into a 130,000 bottle. We have nowhere near enough ventilators, nowhere near enough nurses, nowhere near enough beds.

Here's exponential growth:

Deaths
5/3/20 1
12/3/20 10
19/3/20 100
26/3/20 1000
2/4/20 10,000

We will run out of ICU capability long before Easter.

I think lots of people will take any sniffle/ sore throat as an opportunity to self isolate dcs for 14 days and wait for government to come to its senses. Easy to keep my younger two off school not sure about my teen.

@Cavemum

That is an excellent article and confirms some of what I have been thinking. What works and is needed in some countries is different to others. The sections about Thailand are spot on and explain some of the wide variations we are seeing. There has to be a calm and phased approach to something as serious as this. Panic, hand waving and ill-informed demands serve no-one, least of all the most vulnerable.

And remember - that 10,000 that will die by Easter are infected NOW.

I work in a school and my concern is for school workers and their families. I agree normality for children is key and why keeping schoosl open is effective for the nation to continue functioning during this time. But we have children coming in with symptoms, to possibly be sent home (not always as parents working and unable to pick up) putting others at risk.

It’s been left to individual head teachers as to whether it’s Exceptional Circumstances, Illness or Authorised/Unauthorised. So that’s nice and clear.

But children are less at risk. That’s why the schools are open. Where adults congregate is being effectively closed. Children can avoid vulnerable adults by being in school. I’m very surprised we think we know better than our world leading scientists. Children may also get immunity. As may adults. That’s also useful. We are flattening the peak. Why can we just not do what we are asked?

@NomadNoMore, in France, are the kids at 'school' actually getting age-appropriate lessons? I imagine it's more like camp but on school grounds.

A ban may follow. Starting with a ban is draconian. This is nudge first, stick later.

But what is the point of that? If the desired end result is to stop people gathering at pubs theatres etc then just ban. 'Nudging' just leaves the impression that it's a personal decision and also leaves those businesses in limbo.

People need clarity and leadership and they're not getting it.

Trust your instincts

My instincts are to carry on my ordinary life for as long as possible.

The 12 week shutdown (maybe longer) is going to be awful.

Restaurants & pubs can still send out take-away, is reason not to shut them down completely.

Children can avoid vulnerable adults by being in school

Oh FFS.
Clueless

But it’s absolutely fine to take your kids out. Government and school are encouraging self isolation if needed There’s no fines or anything atm.
However the choice us still there for those that want it.

Vulnerable adults in school, or staff with necessary, unavoidable contact with vulnerable adults can not avoid children.

Littlerooti it is easier to enforce when the general public is behind it. We are almost at that point

I think it'd be better off closing them. Emergency workers are likely to pass it onto their kids who then go to school the following day, pass it on to the 1000+ by touching the same door handles etc etc and it spreads like wildfire through the school system.
It would be better to close the school but set aside rooms near care centres for volunteers (maybe volunteer teachers, I am a teacher BTW and I would volunteer) to man and run.

When the schools closed in Italy parents did not stop working and stay home with them. They babysat for each other and kids continued to play and socialise together. Or worse grandparents stepped up and took over care. Defeated the object don’t you think ? If people can’t even stay away from a pub voluntarily why would you trust them to keep kids away from other vulnerable groups for extended periods ? I can’t see many parents keeping children in the house for 12 weeks can you? So although I don’t trust BJ I trust the scientists...if you want to keep your kids off go for it. I doubt anyone’s fining and if they did I wouldn’t pay it. The more you keep yours off the happier I will be about mine still being there. And when the time comes and the closure happens we will be ready.

It may well run like wild fire through the school but it will be milder than in adults. The aim is not protecting children but protecting vulnerable groups.

I get why they have done this. Coming home from work today with the sunshine my park was full of joggers & people playing sports. I'm assuming they are people who usually don't wfh as at 4pm it's normally quiet.

They’ve already said why they aren’t closing schools. If they do it too early it won’t help.

He basically said nothing new except for adding pregnant women to list of vulnerable people and warned we elderly that by the end of week we'll be forcibly housebound.

@Divebar that's not the point I'm making. The point is they then take it home and spread it there. What about the kids in custody by older GPs, young carers, teachers with underlying conditions, school staff with partners or who care for those with underlying conditions?
I think it's just a matter of when now.
It worried me when I read about fit and healthy ending up in hospital in Italy.

@Divebar
FFS.....Over a million adults work in schools either as teachers or support staff.