ONS saying that there is an estimated 60% increase in Covid cases in England with numbers at 3,200 daily.

[Goldistheanswer]

On Sky news just now. 60% increase and 3,200 new cases daily. It’s very worrying.

It's scary isnt' it

Like packing kids shoulder to shoulder into classrooms because we are pretending they can't be infectious till they're 18? la la la

Well no one came up with any actual workable alternative solutions, given that they do need to be educated, yes.

Though I’m all for mask wearing/money for cleaning/building work for ventilation in schools.

@cass2020- what's your take on the Covid situation Cass

Let people use their common sense.

You assume that people have some. People couldn't even wash their hands or maintain social distancing or avoid crowded places back in late Feb/early Mar. They didn't use common sense then. Over Summer, people had big parties, crowded into pubs, etc - they didn't use common sense then either. Some people are just incapable of following pretty simple guidelines.

You probably don’t have someone with a health vulnerability in their family who will probably die or be very ill if they get it.

WRONG

@Gaileywailey It doesn’t help that all the changes make it so confusing

@TheKeatingFive

Italy and Denmark and other countries did come up with workable solutions. I suggested some of them upthread if you care to take a look. Independent SAGE have been formally making some similar suggestions.

There is some cost to some of these, but it would cost nothing to allow vulnerable families the option of home schooling - if they want it - and it would have made the last few weeks much less stressful for many many people if the Government had shown some compassion about this.

I suppose it depends whether the child and family would be able to use that approach. It would suit us great

Lucky you. One of mine has significant special needs and needs a lot of tailored individual support to access the curriculum (which he’s already not getting properly because of Covid as it is) and the other is sitting National 5s in many subjects I have never studied, and needs to get the straight As he’s capable of, whilst I work full time from home in a brand new role, having been made redundant from my previous part time one. Not so easy here.

@MadameBlobby So there should be choice. People who can homeschool should be encouraged to do this as a positive civic act, as it Denmark. That would leave more space and more teacher time for others who can't homeschool and need to be in.

And yes, we would be very grateful to be able to do this, and are very lucky (apart from being quite at risk from this virus) that we have the resources to do it, if we are allowed.

@user1497207191

Let people use their common sense.

You assume that people have some. People couldn't even wash their hands or maintain social distancing or avoid crowded places back in late Feb/early Mar. They didn't use common sense then. Over Summer, people had big parties, crowded into pubs, etc - they didn't use common sense then either. Some people are just incapable of following pretty simple guidelines.

@user1497207191

Or maybe they realise the virus isn't a threat to them, and would rather live their lives than cower in fear?

@Starlingbird

I was commenting to MadameBlobby

I’m actually vulnerable myself. Nearing 50 and some other issues that place me at higher risk. Of course I don’t want to get it if I can avoid it and I’m following all the rules but equally I don’t think I’ve got some god given right not to get it and don’t think the world should revolve around ensuring I don’t.

Italy and Denmark and other countries did come up with workable solutions.

That’s there. It didn’t happen here. 🤷‍♀️

And plenty of other countries went back as normal, no big issues, you don’t hear about it because it isn’t newsworthy.

I do however agree on the homeschooling front, in that I think anyone who wanted to and met the criteria for homeschooling, should have been allowed to deregister for a year, while keeping their place for Sept 2021.

MadameBlobby, your situation sounds very difficult and and your family clearly are not being supported in the way they need. We don't want to be at school now or need their resources. If our children are not there, the teacher has more time. You do need your children there and should totally be prioritised for this.

Oh god please don't let us go into another lockdown, please...

@Starlingbird

MadameBlobby, your situation sounds very difficult and and your family clearly are not being supported in the way they need. We don't want to be at school now or need their resources. If our children are not there, the teacher has more time. You do need your children there and should totally be prioritised for this.

Thank you, that’s kind. I don’t think it’s any more difficult than many other families have it and in fact many ways a lot easier as I was able to get them both laptops and they’re in secondary school now. I’m just not equipped to provide the specialist support the younger one needs and he can’t really self motivate.

@MadameBlobby

I suppose it depends whether the child and family would be able to use that approach. It would suit us great

Lucky you. One of mine has significant special needs and needs a lot of tailored individual support to access the curriculum (which he’s already not getting properly because of Covid as it is) and the other is sitting National 5s in many subjects I have never studied, and needs to get the straight As he’s capable of, whilst I work full time from home in a brand new role, having been made redundant from my previous part time one. Not so easy here.

This! I'm so sick of middle class Mumsnet posters going on about how easy it is for them to home educate their kids! Ffs there are many many children and families who are not in the position! For example, parents who don't speak English are going to be highly disadvantaged in teaching their children no matter how good their intentions!

Most of posters suggestions about what should be done are as pie in the Sky as posters who think Covid is caused by 5g!

[quote herecomesthsun]@MadameBlobby So there should be choice. People who can homeschool should be encouraged to do this as a positive civic act, as it Denmark. That would leave more space and more teacher time for others who can't homeschool and need to be in.

And yes, we would be very grateful to be able to do this, and are very lucky (apart from being quite at risk from this virus) that we have the resources to do it, if we are allowed.[/quote]

That completely ignores the manpower and effort to set this up and for checks to be carried out that vulnerable children are going in to school etc

"Or maybe they realise the virus isn't a threat to them, and would rather live their lives than cower in fear".

I've watched colleagues hug each other who must be thinking exactly like this and wondered if parents whose kids might be sent home for 2 weeks if covid spreads among the staff would support these teachers "living their lives"

It is difficult enough to get a test as it is and if cases really do double every week or so how hard will it be by October? Test and trace might start to struggle more than they already do and dido Harding might be unable to brag about tracing the "majority of contacts".

All in all it might be more disruptive to people lives in a month than it is now.

‘cower in fear’........ugh what horrible language to use. I’m not ‘cowering in fear’ but I really don’t fancy going into a tougher lockdown due to idiots who cba to do the basics. Potentially schools closing again, bars and restaurants shutting. It’s not a big fucking ask is it, wear a bloody mask, social distance.

And if some people are afraid then is not surprising. I know people with serious health conditions who have every right to be worried.

@mintpeonies

I really hope some of the posters on here are bots and shrills because - if not - if these are ordinary mumsnet mums, then my goodness this bodes badly for sick and dead in coming months in England. And if it is bots and shills then I hope it is Russia/China/Extinction rebellion and not Cumming’s government.

This ^

@Tfoot75

If ONS think the no of cases is 3,200, that means we are picking up nearly all of them as positive tests. Which would be a good thing for the future R rate.

Good point!

I initially thought that. But the 3,200 is for the week ending 5 September. In that week there were an average of 2,300 cases (by date of test) so we are picking up around 70%. Not bad but not as good as I initially thought. So there are approx 900 people per day not being diagnosed and not self isolating

@Hyperfish101

If people did the bare minimum of mask wearing etc then we might be able to navigate the following months without even more restrictions. Sadly there are enough idiots and/or deniers that mean our best efforts to ensure a slowing if transmission seem to be in vain.

The vast majority of people are doing this and the numbers are still going up. Social distancing and masks will slow the spread, not stop it completely.

Yes because slowing the spread is all we can do! Well aware of that. Virus going nowhere so we need to manage it.

bare minimum of mask wearing etc

What is the "etc"?
Experience of South Korea, Singapore or Hong Kong show that wearing face covers really is a bare minimum -- as in fairly minimal impact. So what is the "etc" that would have lots of impact?