Why is Covid affecting schools?

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Latest updates are there have now been 421 outbreaks in UK schools. How is this possible? From what the government was implying throughout August was that schools would be safe environments which Covid would be unable to affect. How we was told that children don’t spread the virus.

You could understand the odd case here and there but that seems very high when most schools have only been back for one week. I suspect this number is much higher due to the lag in testing and results and indeed the amount of people unable to even get a test. Also we’ve not had enough time to really see the effect of spreading within schools from asymptotic carriers, just what has been taken in from being caught elsewhere.

We are still officially in summer, what will the situation be once the weather turns colder? Once the community transmission increases with the R rate now above 1?

Because they lied

Because children do transmit the virus, especially older pupils.

Because I can’t stay 2m away from the students I teach due to small classrooms.

Because classrooms aren’t ventilated as windows don’t open at all or open slightly.

Because the guidance states mask wearing interferes with teaching.

Because although we zone pupils they all arrive and leave together and share the same toilets.

I could go on ...

@motherrunner what do you suggest ?

My daughter is in a whole year group "bubble" of 300 kids.... that's how it can spread. Children can catch it, just seemingly thought initially not as severely as adults, but they most definitely can and this virus will mutate so they can be affected badly, and they certainly will be in bubbles of 300!

I have no answers, I’m just explaining why schools are impacted.

I live in a high risk area. This week 3 high schools 2 primary schools have closed year groups since Monday.

I taught live lessons throughout lockdown on Teams. I would have preferred a rota system to allow for greater distancing and smaller class sizes. All schools would be in a level playing field in terms of how much teaching is delivered. Schools in high risk area who will be in and out all the time will be at a disadvantage and will be sitting the same exams as those in low risk areas who may not have any disruption at all.

Cases at the schools I know of have been teachers or staff testing positive within a few days of being back so unlikely that they caught it from the children in that short time period.

Because children attended school when they were infectious but asymptomatic, and unknowingly brought it into school. Plus maybe a few people ignoring symptoms.

@NotAKaren

Cases at the schools I know of have been teachers or staff testing positive within a few days of being back so unlikely that they caught it from the children in that short time period.

The schools closed in my area are due to pupils testing positive. There isn’t the rumour mill, it’s reported on local news.

Because the idea that children don't transmit the virus were generated when children were stuck at home and not mingling in schools or beyond their own households!

I suggest outside teaching. There’s no reason the school field could not have been commandeered with open side marquees, outdoor heaters, pop up screens and power lines laid down.

They had time.

@SisterAgatha

I suggest outside teaching. There’s no reason the school field could not have been commandeered with open side marquees, outdoor heaters, pop up screens and power lines laid down.

They had time.

The time maybe but not the resources as funding was not provided for this. also some schools haven’t got a field - my children attend school with a small playground only.

The local school with a case here (one case!) They returned to school Wednesday. Pupil developed symptoms Wednesday evening. Tested Thursday. Year group closed as of Monday. So the initial case could not have been connected to school opening. Hopefully not transmitted to others in that 1 day.

They had the funding. They’ve bent over backwards to funnel money into hospitality and eco housing... they just chose not to

How is this possible

Did you really think it wasn’t?

There’s no evidence to say children don’t transmit it and they are together in large groups with no masks, little of no SD, sharing buses etc. Then many parents have been socialising claiming they are together all day so no reason to adhere to the guidelines now. Add in parents sending them in with colds but no test so no one actually knows.

I didn’t expect anything less than cases and they will continue to rise. It’s only been a week or so for most schools in England.

No schools closed in our geographical area. Been back 3 weeks.

It not children spreading it though?

@SisterAgatha

“School field”. Unfortunately many of those have been sold by cash strapped loca authorities. So not a realistic option for many schools.

So many posts here with kids with symptoms, not able to get tests. Scary if kids get it. No one knows the long term impacts. Keep safe everyone.

No schools near me with cases and long may that continue as my children are so happy to be back at school full time.

Students and teachers are catching it elsewhere and bringing it to school - it's still too soon (Scotland and a few other places aside) for cases to have been caught at school.

It’s one pupil/teacher in a school which causes a year group to shut. It’s not spreading wildly in schools as is being implied. In our local high school one dc came to school with it on their first day back last week. Tested positive so whole year group shut all dc and teachers sent home for 2 weeks but no more cases reported yet, despite it being a week since they were with this positive dc. Chances are 180 dc will have missed 2 weeks education for nothing.

It started from staff at my child’s school.

People have been on holiday and abroad over the summer and picked it up from mixing areas and increased socialising. It’s going to be both teachers and children until things settle down again.

I don't doubt that kids can transmit to teachers, I am simply stating the cases know of the schools were only open a day or two when staff members tested positive so they have contracted it outside schools.

@NotAKaren

Cases at the schools I know of have been teachers or staff testing positive within a few days of being back so unlikely that they caught it from the children in that short time period.

Exactly

Early cases are community cases brought in

And yet one school already with 4 teachers and one student so unless the student was related...