Reopening schools before September

[Keepgoing88]

Given the information about what other countries are planning to do does anyone else think schools may reopen before school summer holidays? I was all prepared to have the kids off until September but seeing what has gone on in the news recently I'm not so sure now and thinking it might be earlier, at least in some.capacity. anyone else?

@alloutoffucks another reason I think schools should not re open as like you said many people who are vulnerable but not sheilded will have no option to go back to work risking their lives.

It takes a strict lock down plus testing, contact tracing and isolation.

And still then things can’t go back to normal because ‘normal’ involves international travel and trade.

Here’s more detail on the possible reopening of French schools after 11th May:

On Tuesday, interior minister Christophe Castaner stressed that the 11 May was not “a certainty but an objective”, while in a separate interview the education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said not all education establishments would open their doors at 9am on 11 May as it would be “out of the question to have packed classrooms”.

People need to be prepared for the facts that it is going to have to be staggered and social distancing still has to happen. Otherwise lockdown was pointless.

I do wonder if those screaming at teachers to stop being selfish and open up schools would be prepared to be exposed 500+ people a day with no protective gear.

We know viral load makes a huge difference to how sick you get. The fewer people you see the more likely you are to have a mild illness. Why do you think all of these young, healthy nurses are dying?

@noblgiraffe International trade is still happening. Sure it is a while till we are going to be able to fly abroad like we used to for holidays. And I suspect that will be long after the government allows it. Because nobody in their right mind is going to do it until you can get insurance that covers this virus. And the insurance industry is risk averse.

2nd week in June they will go back in certain

Schools will not reopen until September. Pubs, clubs, restaurants not until New Year (same as Italy).

Construction, manufacturing, retail and offices where social distancing can be successfully put in place will slowly reopen from June.

The government will extend the furloughed scheme until September- when the schools go back and rest of retail etc reopens

So it sounds in France key workers children going back first. Which we already have here. Our schools have not closed.

International trade is still happening

Yes but you said you wanted a really strict lockdown so presumably no trade.

The stricter the lockdown the sooner this will all be over you said.

I think you are right @Discobar

Normal is a long way away. Any workplace where large groups have to congregate- like supermarkets, schools and public transport are going to have to work out a system that still allows social distancing to happen. Otherwise the infection rate will just pop right back to peak levels.

Disco and who will look after the kids? Grandparents?

Also it was mentioned that workers without children go back but those with children stay at home

Yeah that will go down well. Have you seen the posts on mumsnet that parents get preferential treatment at work?

And should a person deemed vulnerable have to go back to work so a parent who has no health issues can stay at home with their children?

@Discobar I have never worked in an office where social distancing can be put in place. Social distancing means at least 6 feet apart.

Disco probably has it.
The furloughed parents will look after children especially since the government added child care as a reason for furlough.

I think there might be a slim chance of schools going back in mid June but that's about it.

Keeping in mind the aim is not to completely stop the spread but to slow it. A few weeks in school gets it spreading a bit then the natural break up for summer to slow it again.

We can't keep the nation in lockdown for 2 years to a vaccine is available. So we have to build immunity somehow.

@noblegiraffe Don't be daft. Of course some international trade has to happen. We do not grow enough food to feed our population for a start. Our food security is very poor. Nobody would argue to let people starve.

@Random18 - Didn't say it was ideal, working from home will become the norm until September. Those who can't will suffer. Financial casualties will be high of course

@alloutoffucks

It’s simple- A&B shifts. It’s what they are doing in Beijing at the moment. Only half or fewer staff in at a time. 14 days on and 14 days off rotating.

A sensible article here that I’ve posted before discussing how we can lift lockdown. Schools should be one of the last things to lift, as the risk of spreading once they reopen is substantial.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-52183295

That NEU letter was great-thanks to the op that posted that.

I don’t think anything will change until the 12 weeks for vulnerable people is over as we can’t staff schools safely without those members of staff.

Nobody would argue to let people starve.

Your strict lockdown sounds less and less strict by the post. We know that suppression leads to a second wave.

The government will extend the furloughed scheme until September- when the schools go back and rest of retail etc reopens

The government won't be able to afford this and neither will the economy

In terms of pubs - Mitchell's and butlers alone employ probably 100,000 - no way the government will be covering their wages until New Year

@alloutoffucks - I have worked in some offices that can, and some that can't. Comes down to space really. Working from home and furlough scheme have to be utilised.

Bottom line is like it or not things will not return to normal for some time and we are all going to suffer financially- but that's the better alternative than a huge mortality rate

@Blackbear19 Yes I think that is what the government is planning. They want people to get infected. And accept a lot more will die. They think doing what Germany is doing is too hard. The easier option is pretending that there is such a thing as herd immunity and trying to pretend they did not know so many more people will die in the UK than elsewhere.
Initial research papers are showing that some people do not develop immunity after being ill with corona.
Lots and lots more people will die. But that will actually help the economy. And that is all that really matters. Money.

@lovelydream - How do you know the government cant afford till September? Imo they can but like you it's my opinion. Yes, I agree many companies will go bust, yes there will be huge unemployment but lives come first

So it sounds in France key workers children going back first. Which we already have here. Our schools have not closed.

Not sure where you are getting that from alloutoffucks. In France, schools are still open to look after the children of health care workers and police/fire etc. They haven't released the details yet but I'm guessing it will be staggered based on regional level of infection and possibly part time.

@Discobar What you are proposing is what I want to happen. Along with mass testing, contact tracing and forced isolation.
I suspect it won't. Because the government wants the economy to be put first. If you do that the better option is for thousands more people to die.

workers without children go back but those with children stay at home

I think this would also lead to significant legal claims against employers for who/how they select to continue to furlough as the majority of employees pushed on to furlough will be women - remember the majority of people are not having their wage topped up and anyone earning over £30k is at massive financially disadvantage

If I'm honest the death rate is what it is. It is actually relatively low as a % - i have to probably be the arsehole here and say that with a death rate of 1.7% it isn't high enough to warrant bankrupting entire countries sorry