Are we a couple of weeks behind Spain and France?

[BKCRMP]

If Spain is v.likely in a second wave and France not far behind them does that mean we are also heading straight in to one again?

Will schools open regardless this September?

I hope we don't get a second wave, I haven't seen my mum and sisters yet! Waiting 2 weeks as I've been teaching throughout. Trying to remain optimistic, I've stuck to the rules and hope our leaders learn from their very recent mistakes.

@Littlemeadow123 totally sympathise & I don’t have the answer to that. But I also know another forced lockdown as a result of a second wave will be devastating & isolating too.

I’m hoping that they u-turn on secondary schools reopening with no masks

If grown adults (not those with disabilities) won't wear a mask to go to the supermarket for 10 minutes how do you expect teens to wear one in school for 6 hours?

Spain are doing really badly as a country on track and trace. 75% of cases in Cataluna have no contacts traced at all.

That's what we need to be focusing on.

Last march there were many denying the inevitable. Deja vu...

I so, so hope it isn't going to be the case but...

I’m a little confused by this. Does the UK not still have the highest daily covid death rate in Europe? So you’re still in your first wave?

I'm honestly not sure anything that happens this early on is a 'second wave' so much as a bit of a spike of the first. I don't know who is getting infected (eg if it's mostly younger people who won't die, but it's well controlled among shielding people then it's not that bad) and so on, so its hard to say what it means.

It is doubtful whether Johnson & Co will do any of the sensible things to try guard against a second wave so I bloody hope we aren’t the next Spain or France. We desperately need a track and trace that is fit for purpose or we don’t stand a chance. We aren’t a culture who prize taking responsibility for the collective good and too many take pride in refusing to wear masks, stick to distancing advice etc so we really aren’t in a good situation if we are heading for a spike in cases. Johnson has done everything too little, too late and not well enough at every single stage of the COVID nightmare. We can’t trust him or the rest of his motley crew to respond appropriately.

@Waxonwaxoff0

School better bloody be open. DS has changed into a completely different child since school closed, he's angry, lonely (only child) and lost all confidence. Plus I cannot work from home so no idea how I'm supposed to pay bills if school is shut.

He can go out and mix with friends in a careful now that restrictions have eased. Let's face it, some youngsters have been doing that anyway all the time. No I do not think it's right but it is a fact.

It seems to me that Spain moved out of lockdown a little too rapidly, possibly under pressure from the tourist industry (understandably worried about its summer trade).

I’m concerned about English workers being pushed back into work when they can easily WFH, I think that Wales and Scotland have handled it better and not given in to lobbying from company owners with a vested interest in getting commuters back into city centres.

We can support the economy without endangering health. Companies need to adapt.

Obviously I’m no expert but that’s my instinct.

To anyone thinking a second lockdown is needed... I hope you have a big pot of savings as there won't be a furlough scheme this time!

I really, really hope not, I guess we'll see in a few weeks...

what do you suggest a student who is hard of hearing and needs to lip read do if masks are made mandatory in schools?

Live Transcribe (needs android phone) and the teacher uses a microphone that goes to a live display. For one on one conversations, the phone and the app work well, even better with an external microphone rather than the internal one.

It's not a fabulous workaround but it does work. It does, however, also rely upon people wearing masks through which they can speak.

Spain opened nightclubs and late night bars with no social distancing enforced. We haven't.

Sadly, I think we are only a couple of weeks behind, and no, I don't think we'll learn from what's happening in other parts of Europe.

jessstan2 yes, we have been doing that now but most of his friends' parents are working (I have been on furlough) so they're only really up for meeting at the weekend. Monday to Friday he's stuck with just me and he's so fed up.

Not sure but the thought of schools not opening is not a welcome one.

I agree with pp children and teens have missed out on a lot and it’s affecting mh.

I’d prefer masks and visors first.

How does a 2 week quarantine actually work?
If you land at Heathrow, how do you go anywhere without getting a train/cab/tube?
It's a token gesture - we should just stop people going.

To anyone thinking a second lockdown is needed... I hope you have a big pot of savings as there won't be a furlough scheme this time!

I totally see your point, but if cases rise exponentially then the wages will be gone anyway so they'd need that big pot either way. What we need is to avoid either that exponential rise or a second lockdown, but can the UK walk that tightrope? I hope so, but I don't know. The govt are shite, and there are a fair few idiots putting their social preferences above other people needing to actually earn a living or leave the house.

To anyone thinking a second lockdown is needed... I hope you have a big pot of savings as there won't be a furlough scheme this time!

Agree plus it will be the LA deciding on local ones, they got a bit of money iirc but funding closure is a different ball game.

What are the implications for Brits travelling to Spain for a vacation later in August. Do you think there is a risk they will be caught up in the surge in cases and have to face quarantine/isolation or possibly have their holiday cancelled. I havent got a holiday planned but watching these little spikes in France and Spain has made me think delaying going abroad this year is probably wise.

I’m also hoping they u-turn on schools and go for remote learning as much as possible. With no social distancing or PPE is sheer madness to be even contemplating it.

Totally agree.

September? They open in 3 weeks or so up here in Scotland. Could be the rest of the UK won't open because our numbers will start rising from schools opening.

For those wondering if the U.K. will follow suit:
Is the virus the same here ?
Are we biologically the same as the Spanish?
Do we do the same things the Spanish do?
Do we have a competent Gov with a working track and trace system?

Blimey guys it’s not rocket science. Of course numbers will go up here particularly when we all go inside more. Crikey 10% of people in U.K. been infected (at a generous guess) that’s 90% still susceptible to a virus that’s spread grows exponentially.

I wonder about the intelligence of many I really do.

@NOTANUM

How does a 2 week quarantine actually work? If you land at Heathrow, how do you go anywhere without getting a train/cab/tube? It's a token gesture - we should just stop people going.

We won't do it here but countries with proper quarantine transport new arrivals by coach and minibus to selected quarantine hotels. You're right. Here it's a meaningless pretence

Could the Zoe app be of use with track and trace? It's so easy and quick to use. I don't know why it's not being promoted by the government.