Chris Witty "We're at the limits of the contact we can allow"

[confusedandold]

I've been watching the Press conference and I always find Chris Witty the voice of reason. He is saying that we are at the limit of what we can open without the virus spreading further and we may even have to take a step back. So where does this leave the opening of schools in a few weeks time?

I think there'll be teacher strikes if they try to keep schools open while other things close.

I've just been looking at the detail in the teacher payrises for Sept, it's a decent attempt at a sweetener but I doubt it will be enough.

I think they’ll let schools back but reduce social contact between households

@user1493413286

I think they’ll let schools back but reduce social contact between households

Given how many have been ignoring the guidelines/rules around that already it won’t work.

Plus the parents could have been in work, travelled, been to the pub, cafe etc.

You’d have to stop all contact with others full stop to send children back in and have no transmission. Which isn’t possible as key workers need to work so we have food etc.

Good luck with telling parents that they can not do other things if the schools are open.

People will take the attitude that the children are mixing in school so whats the point in doing so outside school.

So much of this is unenforcable and reliant on public trust / support which Johnson has lost in the way he's handled various things.

The school payrise is NOT a sweetener. It was agreed before the pandemic and is entirely unfunded by government. I am beyond livid that people see it as some kind of bribe.

Except mps they are untouchable and above the law especially when they need an eye test.

Cummings is not an MP, he is completely unelected and that is the really frightening thing.

I know that Piggy, the detail's only just come out and it was "reannounced" as part of the big thank you to public sector workers though, so that's exactly how the public are supposed to see it. Odd that the school support staff pay rise also public sector, due in Apr 2020 still hasn't been confirmed.

@Uhoh2020
But children aren't the only people who need social contact. Sacrificing other venues (unless we specifically focus on children's play areas) in favour of schools is going to have a disproportionate impact on other groups that is likely to be worse than simply keeping schools closed. It is simply unrealistic to expect large numbers of young adults to basically remain in one room for several months whilst at the same time allowing children to get on with life almost normally and attempting such measures would just see large levels of non-compliance as there is only so long people can cope in such a situation.

Too many people take easing of restrictions as a Green light to do wtf they like, not just here but all over the World.
Folk who have tested positive in Aus are still turning up for work.

People may have had their overseas travel curtailed because of CV transmission but that isn't going to stop them heading for the UK's tourist areas in their droves, aided by a Govt that doesn't seem to have worked out how CV is spread.

Restrictions on what you can or can't do in your own home will be ignored, esp as there can't be any enforcement.

I know that too grotty. It juts made me annoyed al over again!

Redtoothbrush, whoever was in charge would have had an issue with public support.

Those that don’t abide by SD, those that won’t wear a mask with no true medical exemption, had indoor gatherings etc would have done what they wanted regardless of the PM. They aren’t doing it to spite the PM but because their wants come first.

I hope that that they prioritise schools over pubs and other leisure activities.

"You’d have to stop all contact with others full stop to send children back in and have no transmission. Which isn’t possible as key workers need to work so we have food etc."

Keyworker children were in school last term. I doubt there will be a reduction on what was already being provided.

Boris basically told everyone to get their bucket and spades out jas !

He has never shown much compassion towards people's whose overseas travelled has gone down the tubes because he wants everyone on the UK beach with their knotted hankies.

Yes we've had it now.this is us until vaccine or forever if no vaccine. How utterly shit . So depressed

I think masks for secondary age will be coming which I'm not bothered about as long as there are exemptions.

The original Imperial model suggested that opening/closing schools and has the least effect on transmission of the all measures so it should probably be the last/first step in locking down/reopening. Conversely, it probably has the smallest impact on the economy too so who knows what the government will decide.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Given they are saying household transmissions are high, what do people expect when thirty plus go back into a classroom all day with no PPE or social distancing? With no idea if others having being following the rules/guidelines, have travelled and adhered to quarantine etc.

Exactly.

Anyone expecting consistently open schools in a few weeks is very naive.

People really don't want to hear the stuff about gatherings and large playdates etc.. They don't want 'summer to be cancelled' (to paraphrase the Sun journalist). Already someone on my estate has announced a big 21st tonight which will have a lot of people and music til late. All summer next door have had kids in and out. I am sure there were no repercussions but they won't stop that to get their kids back at school. Because they haven't become infected they can't see any correlation. They also think once schools are open, they are open. There haven't been enough warnings about how chaotic or disruptive it could be. It could be like the hokey cokey. People need to know this. MN will become a very interesting place in September : unless it's all fine, of course.

@mrpumblechook
Let's rephrase that to 'I hope they tell thousands of young adults to kill themselves so I don't have to look after my own child' as that is basically what you are saying. It is simply unrealistic to expect the people who work in such industries and even many of those who frequent it to be able to cope long term without any pay (the furlough scheme is ending) or the chance to leave their often substandard accommodation that may well consist of one room.

Pretty sure the original modelling actually said close schools first and open them last...

It's a new way of life I'm afraid. Time to readjust your settings. Forget about group activities, forget about foreign holidays , forget hugging relatives and hope to god you hang on to your jobs. They will get kids back to school not because it's safe but because the risks to society are too great if they don't.

Current second and further Covid waves I suspect so watch this space on all reopening including English (in person physical schools).

Simply a very complex evolving balancing act and learning curve:

lives (physical and mental) versus livelihoods.

scientists versus politicians and economists

short/medium term pain versus long term gain.

Don't hold your breath for that magic unicorn nectar as there may be no guarantee cure but possibly better medical interventions.

they are saying household transmissions are high

Household transmissions are often the highest risk for many diseases because that is where you spend the most time in close contact with people and when people are sick they spend all their time at home if they aren't hospitalised. However, quarantine prevents spread outside the home.

I wonder if people will finally take notice when schools have to keep sending whole year groups or indeed the whole school home on a regular basis due to positive test results