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Government reportedly considering schools going back in 3 weeks

999 replies

FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 18/04/2020 23:38

On BBC News 24 now, article in tomorrow's Sunday Times says that ministers are considering schools going back in three weeks time. Plus allowing some shops and social gatherings, but not pubs and clubs.

OP posts:
Eyewhisker · 19/04/2020 08:07

The people who are dying every day are not children or even young adults. Over half are over 80, 95% are over 60.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 19/04/2020 08:10

Realistically we're going to have to loosen lock down while the virus is still active. We cannot hide in our houses waiting for a vaccine, if it ever comes.

The aim of lockdown was never to avoid anyone getting infected, but to flatten the peak. I predict a series of peaks, and lockdowns. The NHS has not been overwhelmed so this lockdown has achieved its aim.

I realise it's hard to get your head around if you've been avoiding going out.

jasjas1973 · 19/04/2020 08:11

Well, i do, we are running at a 1000 plus deaths per day inc those in the community.

Until this number is down to 200 or so, we shouldn't be risking more deaths, only Germany (in europe) is contemplating some schools reopening and we aint Germany.

Yurona · 19/04/2020 08:12

@delightfuldaisy19 you are completely right. The virus won’t have magically disappeared by september, the chance of a vaccine developed (let alone tested, distributed etc) by September are miniscule.
The chance of the nhs overwhelmed with a september school start - massive.
I would be much more comfortable with mid may than any later point in time

MarginalGain · 19/04/2020 08:12

A death rate of 1 in 100, or 1 in 1000 if you are young is not insignificant. Do you think people would fly if 1 in 1000 planes crashed?

The fatality rate for kids is vanishingly small. Far less than 1/1000.

StonersPotPalace · 19/04/2020 08:16

Threads like this are unhelpful speculation.

chantico · 19/04/2020 08:18

May wouid, I think be too soon.

The risk comes because you start mixing households, and that's a major change to social distancing

Social distancing seems to be the most effective tool in the box, so going from lockdown to mixng of that extent seems rather abrupt.

Also as half term is 25-29 May starting for a few days only to be off for a week seems crazy (if you can mix gphousehoods again, then at least some planned UK holidays can gomahead, which wouid be a much needed boost for regions, so I don't think re-opening should cancel scheduled holidays)

June would be better - and there might be decisions about the safety of the shielded population around then too (the miminum 12 weeks expires early June)

Alanna1 · 19/04/2020 08:20

I’d send mine back. I think it’s terrible for one of their mental health currently but both of mine are struggling, and children aren’t especially at risk - some risks in life you have to live with. It would be a harder decision for those who have vulnerable members in their family home. Plus the economy can’t sustain this and an economic collapse will be far, far worse in the medium term. Surely the government will have PPE sorted in 3 weeks too.

midgebabe · 19/04/2020 08:23

Don't kids have teachers and parents ? And I guess most children would rather they lived.

Schools going back early if we are sure that children are not carriers would be fine. But that seems somewhat unclear at this point

NOTANUM · 19/04/2020 08:24

Given the risk to children is miniscule and adults with no conditions under 60 are largely fine, I think a return before summer is inevitable. With advanced testing for teachers, the staffing could be managed.

Two main reasons:

  • Many children and young adults are suffering untold misery in lockdown. Teachers, dinner ladies, football coaches, etc. - all these keep an eye on vulnerable children. Hunger, abuse, lack of access to education - we can't keep ignoring their needs.
  • As a country, we can't afford the furlough system much longer. We won't be able to raise enough debt to pay for much longer. The loans system for small businesses isn't working. We just can't afford to carry on indefinitely in lockdown. If the furlough system wasn't available, how many would still be able to afford to stay at home to homeschool?

I speak as someone with a family member who nearly died of it. It was truly traumatic for us all. But crucially she also thinks that the children and healthy adults need to resume some sense of normality..

Bluntness100 · 19/04/2020 08:24

I also think this thread demonstrates a fear of normal life, but also that people don’t understand why we are in lock down, it’s to manage the nhs capacity, not to wait until the virus is gone.

Keeping school closed till the autumn and the start of the flu season would be disastrous. The virus won’t have gone. We would get a double whammy, plus folks wouldn’t be able to get their flu vaccine so those death numbers would be huge, then in addition a society on lock down for months and months would not recover in our life time. Our children’s futures would be dismal. And yes they would have futures, because it is very benign disease in the overwhelming majority of children.

By may 11 we will have been in lock down for nearly two months. We need to be able to live with corona and manage it. Not lock down in our homes for up to a year, which is what would happen if this went through the autumn winter.

People need to remember the cost of shutting down a society, the deaths that come with economic hardship and social isolation. The future for our children. The impacts of not trying to manage this through the summer, but waiting until flu season then doing it. And the huge amount of damage that will be done.

Yes it’s scarey, but not as scarey as what will happen if we don’t manage to start to get back to normal and manage this disease correctly

ChrissieKeller61 · 19/04/2020 08:24

What mental health struggles are your kids going through ? I’m genuinely baffled ? Mine are doing what they always do, chatting on the phone, on FaceTime. GCSE school work is not beyond most adults to explain. There must be something I’m missing because my lot are fine.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 19/04/2020 08:25

Bluntness , well said

NOTANUM · 19/04/2020 08:27

Also we ask our key workers to work (sometimes without even social distancing or PPE), including the low paid stacking shelves or cleaning in care homes, and they have no alternative to sending their children to school.

NOTANUM · 19/04/2020 08:29

@Bluntness100 spot on. We are flattening the curve so the health service could ramp up capacity (largely done) but we are not trying to wait out the virus.

MarginalGain · 19/04/2020 08:30

I also think this thread demonstrates a fear of normal life, but also that people don’t understand why we are in lock down, it’s to manage the nhs capacity, not to wait until the virus is gone.

Yes. People really don't get this.

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 19/04/2020 08:31

What is the alternative? Sadly this virus is here to stay and life goes on and young people need educated. Not least so they can learn this can never happen again

Ihavenoregrets · 19/04/2020 08:31

Oh deep joy..... Yet another 'When are schools reopening' thread. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat.

Here's a crazy idea...start a thread when an official date/plan has actually been given.

AuntyClockWise · 19/04/2020 08:32

@ChrissieKeller61 my 12yo is an only child. She's home alone all day while I work. She is terribly lonely and I fear is starting to get depressed. She's desperate to escape the confines of our home and garden. She talks to her friends daily on Facetime but broke down after the call yesterday saying how much she misses them and just wants to give them a hug. She is desperate to go back to school for the social aspect.

If she had a sibling, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It's the fact she's suddenly spending huge stretches of time on her own that is affecting her mental health.

Glad you and yours is okay though but please use some imagination and try to see why that won't be the case for every personality type or individual situation.

ThePrettyOneX · 19/04/2020 08:33

I suppose all countries that consider lifting the lockdown, will/ have imposed extra precautions like wearing masks. This could work in uk too but MN removed my post last night about this topic!!! Can people sign this off and see what Govt respond petition.parliament.uk/petitions/304397 ta x

carryoncoping · 19/04/2020 08:37

@Bluntness100 very well put.

MigginsMs · 19/04/2020 08:38

I agree @chantico

I also don’t see how they can order over 70s to stay in for a year. Seriously, fuck that. I’d rather take my chances with the virus than cower in my house for a year.

Piggywaspushed · 19/04/2020 08:39

If year 10s go back first , it really is so Ofqual don't have to bother with rejigging the curriculum and examination system sufficiently to make up with any shortfall. The same parents who are clamouring for a return will be vocal next year in saying'but my DC had weeks off school . What is happening to compensate for the that'. The government's answer will be 'nothing, because we made sure we got them back to school as soon as we could.'

Anyway, this on the BBC this morning rather contradicts :

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52341596

alloutoffucks · 19/04/2020 08:40

One third of the population is vulnerable apparently. That includes a lot of schools staff and parents.
If they said healthy kids can go back as long as they live in a household with no one vulnerable and no school staff can work who are vulnerable, then I would be fine with that.
That is not what is being proposed. Kids spread the virus, give it to school staff and to whoever they live with.
And are school staff going to have PPE to wear? Masks? Visors?

Yurona · 19/04/2020 08:40

@Bluntness100 absolutely right
@ChrissieKeller61 mine are 3 and 7. The 3 year old is having the time of his life - he doesn’t get what’s going on.
The 7 year old is struggling badly - he misses playing with his friends, asking questions to his teachers, playing with the school dog, running around on the field. All these things he can’t do on zoom (or only very limited). Its great that your sedentary teenagers are fine, but they will be in the minority. What i hear from most friends is that kids are desperate to go back, including some who under normal circumstances really aren’t fans of school.