Why is Covid affecting schools?

[2X4B523P]

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?

Haha I like it Monkey good one

The government has chosen not to put funding into state schools to enable them to follow scientific consensus around best practice for covid risk reduction which is (at a minimum):

Class sizes no more than 15
Classes 'bubbles' with limited mixing across bubbles
Social distancing within classrooms (i.e. desks 2m apart)
Good ventilation
Masks at least in corridors for secondary
Sufficient sink washing facilities so bubbles don't have to cross

Now - this is anecdata - but my daughter's primary had all year groups back for 4 weeks in Jun/July and did all of the above. My daughter's class (of 15) had no illnesses at all in that period. They had extra cash somehow and extra staff.

They've been back a week in an increased class of 30 (with minimal SD as there isn't as much room, obviously, which has a knock on effect for behaviour in the playground and outside of school) and 4 kids are off sick. One at least has caught something in school because her mother was shielding and before they went back they had literally gone nowhere except outdoors in the countryside and had home deliveries.

So.... it's best practice for a reason. Have spoken to school and they've just said they don't have the extra money they had in Jun/July so this is the best they can do with the budget they have.

I bet all the MPs making decisions about this have their kids in private schools that can do all of the above.

I know that community infections, in general, not just covid, are higher now which is part of it, but the total lack of SD is also part of why it's being passed between children.

The sole reason that schools are open is for economic reasons. Don't be fooled to think that this has anything to do with education. It's harking back to the days in March when Boris essentially enabled a cull through his inaction and/ or herd immunity attempt . Think globally and you'll have your answer.

Very much doubt it’s economic reasons.

Only 8% of working adults have primary age children to worry about. Government would be fine if people continued to struggle to wfh and do cc at same time. Also fine if one parent (usually mother) has to end work and stay home.

Two main priorities are economy and education as they should be. Oh and NHS but that threat is down for now.

Agee @littlebitotartan, so they can get parents back to work (even if they are wfh perfectly fine) and use public transport and cafes etc. In normal circumstances it was the way we lived but we can't simply go back just yet. I rather wfh and support my local business. I totally appreciate there are some who can't wfh.

Now - this is anecdata - but my daughter's primary had all year groups back for 4 weeks in Jun/July and did all of the above. My daughter's class (of 15) had no illnesses at all in that period. They had extra cash somehow and extra staff

Did they have all year groups back full time in June/July?

Redlocks

Yes, all year groups. They have an outside area with some cover which they used as a classroom. Plus used the hall (which is now back to being used for lunch etc) as a classroom.

Does anyone know the rules about sending children to school if someone in their household is waiting for test result?

My GS started back to school this week. Second day back "someone" (GS isn't clear who) arrived at school to remove a child as one of their parents had just got a positive test result. I would have thought it would be a good idea to keep the child at home until the result came through but I can't find what the rules are. Thanks for any information.

I'm just wondering by the way, not intending to complain or anything.

@ancientgran

Everyone in the household with the positive result must self isolate at home for 14 days and must not therefore go to school.

HTH

Thanks.

@ancientgran whole household has to self isolate while you wait for test results.

Toomanyapplesinthefruitbowl, thanks. I sort of thought that should be the case. So potentially a bubble of 150 kids might be broken because child had to have that 1 and a bit days at school. No wonder it is spreading.

Around 550 schools impacted now. R between 1 to 1.2. What can go wrong.

@littlebitotartan

The sole reason that schools are open is for economic reasons. Don't be fooled to think that this has anything to do with education. It's harking back to the days in March when Boris essentially enabled a cull through his inaction and/ or herd immunity attempt . Think globally and you'll have your answer.

Totally agree

@MarshaBradyo

Very much doubt it’s economic reasons.

Only 8% of working adults have primary age children to worry about. Government would be fine if people continued to struggle to wfh and do cc at same time. Also fine if one parent (usually mother) has to end work and stay home.

Two main priorities are economy and education as they should be. Oh and NHS but that threat is down for now.

The economy is exactly the reason. People can't do their jobs if they have children to look after! They don't give a shit about your child's education. They care about a workforce being damaged. Your child is the workforce.

Never no they don’t care if you do your job it someone else does instead.

Or someone else

It really is less of a headache to pass the stress to parents and have them do homeschooling. They can wfh, one adult can quit, they can stump up for childcare.

It is very bad to deal with education so poorly when other countries can manage school.

Q) Why is Covid affecting schools because the government said everything would be fine?

A) The government lied. School leaders and teachers raised concerns and said what needed to be considered before going for a full opening. They were lambasted in the press, presented as lazy, work-shy, militant union members who wanted to ruin children's education.
On Mumsnet lots of people who haven't ever worked in education were also experts on pandemic control and education so took this as proof that teachers were just moaning and couldn't hack the real world. Some of the more goady/dim posters suggested that everything would be solved if teachers left the profession or thought a bit more positively.

Fast forward to September and it turns out those in education knew something about education, and now Mumsnet has lots of threads where people are amazed the virus spreads in schools, that their children aren't socially distancing at school, there's 30 to a class, and teachers are crossing bubbles.

🤷‍♀️

@Howslifenow

Read today that R rate could now be 1.7

@MarshaBradyo what do you mean 'less of a headache'? A huge number of parents aren't able to wfh and many two parent families wouldn't be able to manage on one wage.

And then you have single parents 😳

[quote Helloitsmemargaret]@MarshaBradyo what do you mean 'less of a headache'? A huge number of parents aren't able to wfh and many two parent families wouldn't be able to manage on one wage.

And then you have single parents 😳[/quote]
Hello for the government. As I said passing the stress to parents.

Boris worded it precisely to mislead.

"Schools are covid safe for kids." Yes they are, because kids get it mildly. There was no mention of staff or the fact that they'll take it home with them and infect their families who will then infect colleagues etc.

It was so blindingly obvious that this was going to happen, it's only surprising that people are surprised. Although seeing the stupidity on various facebook posts about how this whole virus is one big con and how everyone is over reacting, I shouldn't really be surprised by anything.

3539 new cases today, the tally of outbreaks in schools hasn’t been updated for about 6 hours and was 543 at that point. Wouldn’t be surprised to see over 600 on the next update.