New study shows the huge role children play in spreading Covid

[Worriedmum999]

Biggest study so far on the role of children in spreading Covid has come out today. Surely this has massive implications on children going back to school as normal. It’s very concerning. news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/looking-at-children-as-the-silent-spreaders-of-sars-cov-2/

So children are spreaders, just like with flu. Did you really not know that before this article? If they weren't there would be no need for the changes that schools are imposing, we'd just be sending all back with no precautions.

Anyone with any sense knew this from the start, why would children be magically exempt from spreading a highly contagious virus. The government must think the general public are thick with their gaslighting that schools are safe for all.
There are still those out there shouting that children can’t catch it, it must be some sort of denial or sheer desperation to get kids back to school and life back to normal. Didn’t 90 odd thousand kids test positive in the US last week, that must be a tiny minority of kids who are actually infected.

So home-school your children if you're worried.

Only a few posts in and already a "just home school" post. Ffs.

Well that else does OP want? Schools to stay shut because she's scared?

@refusetobeasheep

So children are spreaders, just like with flu. Did you really not know that before this article? If they weren't there would be no need for the changes that schools are imposing, we'd just be sending all back with no precautions.

We are sending them back with no precautions.

@MaxNormal that old chestnut is getting a little tiresome. Most people want to keep their kids in school, nobody is shouting for them to stay closed, people want a sustainable solution for schools to safely open during the winter months instead of closing by October half term because so many staff are off sick. I don’t know why people can’t see this. Even if kids show few symptoms they will still be infectious and infect staff, if too many staff are off sick then schools will close and nobody wants that! Everybody back to normal won’t work.

@MaxNormal

So home-school your children if you're worried.

It is an option we are having to consider, but I wish people would be so 'meh, whatever' about saying stuff like this. It's taken years to get anywhere near the right support for ds, and a decent EHCP in place, it is his last year at primary. We do not want to have to deregister him. We also don't want to be fined. We have worked incredibly hard to support ds throughout lockdown and whist shielding him as a family, due to his medical vulnerabilities and complex needs. We organised his home learning, we maintained contact with the school, we kept up his therapies, I even organised all his EHCP and transition meetings (remotely). Now we are told he will have to go back to a full class with no social distancing, as we head into Winter and if we make the decision not to...well get fined or deregister then.

@MaxNormal

Well that else does OP want? Schools to stay shut because she's scared?

...and I don't want schools to stay shut. I would, however like the option of keeping ds home and learning remotely because he has been shielding for the last 5 month's.

Seeing schools, like this one in Dundee, full of children like my son, having 6 teachers test positive, is a legitimate worry for us.

Here we go again. Can we just cut this short? A bunch of people will say we shouldn't open schools because kids will spread the virus. Another bunch of people will say we have to open schools, because kids have to be educated and parents have to go to work. Lots of hand wringing will occur, and people will start throwing around insults. Tomorrow, someone will start another thread on the same subject, and so it goes on. HTH.

@Bupkis my child has been shielding, Down Syndrome with various underlying issues associated with Downs, from what I understand it’s not an easy task to de register if your child has an ECHP, I’m sure someone on here will know more.

I have had guidance for reopening in September and have decided to keep my child home, I’m not the only parent who has made that decision. I have been assured that school will support us and there won’t be any fines. Talk to the school.

@refusetobeasheep

So children are spreaders, just like with flu. Did you really not know that before this article? If they weren't there would be no need for the changes that schools are imposing, we'd just be sending all back with no precautions.

As opposed to sending them back with very few and inadequate precautions?

with no extra funding for hand sanitiser?

no budget for increasing hand-washing facilities and other safety measures?

on overcrowded school buses to packed classrooms down narrow corridors?

And with sanctions for clinically vulnerable families to want to home educate for a few weeks for the sake of safety and to see where we are going with this?

[writes to GP]

We need a thread for parents of children who have been shielding. It’s a legitimate concern, hopefully there could be support and discussion for parents who are in this worrying situation. Parents of healthy NT kids simply do not understand.

@TuckMyWin

Here we go again. Can we just cut this short? A bunch of people will say we shouldn't open schools because kids will spread the virus. Another bunch of people will say we have to open schools, because kids have to be educated and parents have to go to work. Lots of hand wringing will occur, and people will start throwing around insults. Tomorrow, someone will start another thread on the same subject, and so it goes on. HTH.

Or lots of people will say that schools need to re-open but there need to be enough safety measures to reduce the chance of spikes, actually for the sake of all of society.

And clinically vulnerable people will say they need to be able to home school temporarily without sanctions.

Because I can't see many people saying that schools shouldn't open at all. Apart from, that is, UsThatWantsTo SpeakForAllOfThem, who want to set up straw man arguments.

For the zillionth time. No one wants schools closed! We want them opened safely. With the same safety as everywhere else. Which means they’ll be more likely to STAY open.

Thanks for sharing OP.

@Summersnearlyover my children haven't been shielding but as a parent to 2 NT children and 1 DC with ASD, I am worried. 1 of my NT DC has a few different allergies but my child with ASD can not social distance at all, loves nothing more than to give kisses and cuddles to the people he loves/knows (teachers etc). He attends a specialist school just like the one described in the link for the Dundee one.

Why are people so vitriolic to people who share their concerns ! Surely we should be going on evidence. The plans for schools reopening fly against all other guidance and are purely motivated by the need for babysitters for the economy. Proper plans which allow for social distancing and Ppe guidelines to be followed should be put in place before anyone returns to school. Those that think we’re being neurotic are falling for the gaslighting in my opinion.

@TuckMyWin
A bunch of people will say we shouldn't open schools because kids will spread the virus
No they won't, no-one is saying this - they want better safety measures, options to home school (without fines or losing place) and not to be vilified for asking How The Hell Can We Do This Safely?!

@Summersnearlyover
Thankyou, it is so hard for children and families who have been shielding. I am really glad you are able to keep your son home and school are being understanding. Unfortunately our school is not so understanding, and when we have talked to them about our options, we have been told we will be fined if we keep him home.

@Summersnearlyover

We need a thread for parents of children who have been shielding. It’s a legitimate concern, hopefully there could be support and discussion for parents who are in this worrying situation. Parents of healthy NT kids simply do not understand.

Don't forget teachers and other staff who have been shielding, and also staff who's household members have been shielding.

I wonder what will happen when the shielders are told that they need to shield again?

Schools definitely need to open but safely. The death rate is extremely low but look at sky news today more and more is coming to light about long term effects months later. This can include children as well as adults. French rugby team contracted Covid, some have lesions on their lungs. School needs to be safer!!! You need to get back to work I get it but how's that going to play out if you or your child is ill for months.

@refusetobeasheep

So children are spreaders, just like with flu. Did you really not know that before this article? If they weren't there would be no need for the changes that schools are imposing, we'd just be sending all back with no precautions.

Very few changes are being made: the Government guidance has seen to that.

In primary, a class will be considered a bubble and won't mix with others during the school day (but likely will at drop off, pick up and outside of school). At secondary, the whole year group will be a bubble but again, mixing at those times I said will still occur). There is no social distancing in place but teachers are told to stay 2m away if this is possible (it isn't physically or educationally possible, particularly in primary schools). This is being classed as a preventative measure.

The only other measure is the increased washing of hands in schools where this is possible and in which they can afford to continue replacing the soap and paper towels. Unfortunately, the Government has refused to fund or support this despite telling the general public that they would.

Please do not pick up on my misuse of 'who's'.
Thank you

I'm not a scientist but I am a researcher and, having looked at the actual paper, I think the conclusion that this demonstrates clear risk for reopening schools is a reach. The study was conducted only on children who presented at hospital with possible COVID symptoms, meaning that they would be identified and self-isolating, not in school and spreading. Also, the study says nothing about transmission, only viral load - which is obviously related but not at all the same thing. If they're carrying the virus but not shedding, they won't be transmitting.

Study is here: www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(20)31023-4/fulltext

Commentary from other scientists (more expert than me) is here: www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-study-claiming-children-are-silent-spreaders-of-sars-cov-2/

@Shitfuckoh it’s a really shitty situation for any parent who’s child isn’t NT. These children have been forgotten about, which is no surprise really considering how we have to shout and stamp our feet to get heard during normal times. I don’t know what the answer is but I know I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I was told I could continue to keep my son home without fines or him losing his place.

All right. A bunch of people will say that schools shouldn't open unless precautions have been taken. A bunch of people will say schools shouldn't open at all until it's safe (yes they will....I've been on the schools threads). A bunch of people will say schools have to reopen, and it can't be safe, precautions are being taken, yada yada. My point is, the discussion has been done to death. This thread isn't adding anything that hasn't already been said over and over and over again.