We were doing ok until we opened all the schools....

[Bbq1]

After lockdown was lifted pre September and pubs, restaurants etc were opened we seemed to have a handle on Covid with cases, hospital admissions and deaths all declining fairly steadily. Since we released millions of school aged children and thousands of teachers etc back into the classroom- boom, cases and consequently deaths, are now growing very rapidly again. It didn't take a rocket scientist to work out that this would happen. I work in a school and I have a 15 year old starting his gcse's so I 100% don't want the schools to close but surely there must be a more workable solution? Couldn't schools be one week, one week off for different bubbles or alternate days? Nobody wants schools to shut but surely in the long term if we don't get something safer in place and just continue sending kids and adults in day after day, then eventually they will close again?

People will/are refusing to accept that schools are a major driver for cases increasing. So even though there is likely to be a work around they won’t be discussed. It’s a shame and quite likely studies in schools will be a black hole to avoid any potential evidence which could provide clarity.

People don’t want schools shut. I love having a full class and I will be devastated if schools close again. My children are in exam years. Boris fired the warning shots tonight, your children’s education is being put at risk by rule breakers.

No, it’s because the testing system has collapsed and teachers and their families are not a priority for testing. Yet despite schools being the 2nd biggest setting linked to outbreaks according to PHE. Second only to care homes who are prioritised for testing alongside the NHS.

Following the guidance, and the lack of testing schools will close because of staff shortages before you even talk about Covid closures. If it wasn’t so obvious it would be quite funny. The idea that adults and teachers don’t want children in school makes me so angry. They won’t have a choice of this shit show continues. NO CHOICE.

So instead of slating school staff who are being put at risk, get a grip, accept schools will be closed if this continues and write to your MP.

Haven’t gloves been discouraged for months?

Gloves are silly. I only wore them when I worked with HIV positive and HepC and HepB clients (and everything else!) when doing first aid. Or cleaning bodily fluids.

Gloves do more harm than good. Just wash your hands regularly and don't touch your face.

And for the love of all that's holy, if you must wear gloves, learn how to put them on and take them off.

The amount of people doing it stupidly...

@Itisasecret

People don’t want schools shut. I love having a full class and I will be devastated if schools close again. My children are in exam years. Boris fired the warning shots tonight, your children’s education is being put at risk by rule breakers.

No, it’s because the testing system has collapsed and teachers and their families are not a priority for testing. Yet despite schools being the 2nd biggest setting linked to outbreaks according to PHE. Second only to care homes who are prioritised for testing alongside the NHS.

Following the guidance, and the lack of testing schools will close because of staff shortages before you even talk about Covid closures. If it wasn’t so obvious it would be quite funny. The idea that adults and teachers don’t want children in school makes me so angry. They won’t have a choice of this shit show continues. NO CHOICE.

So instead of slating school staff who are being put at risk, get a grip, accept schools will be closed if this continues and write to your MP.

Great post. He's had to bring school closures back onto the table again. The numbers have got to be lower to open without any restrictions and now we're seeing why.

Yeah, I've never worn gloves. Hate them! Just handwashing. Unfortunately visors are being shown to not be as effective. There was a Japanese study today that showed that they have no significant effect. Next thing I'm looking for is a mask with a clear bit over the mouth but again, not as effective as the surgical masks but ugh, who knows.

No sorry still don't know why your spending £30
A bottle of disinfectant £1 lasts weeks
Disposable masks £2 I don't think you need to change every couple of hours unless you are performing surgery and I don't think you need surgical ones at a school either , and soap and water costs penny's but it's your money so if you want to spend £120 a month do it .

I don’t want schools shut but it will happen unless we get testing sorted out.

A friend of mine teaches in a local secondary. Whole school has now shut because several members of staff have tested positive. The reason for closure is that around 10 more teachers are awaiting results - no one knows if they are looking at a small outbreak of three staff or a big outbreak of 15+. Either way they can’t staff the school so it’s closed for the next few days. And that’s not even considering the many teenagers that are isolating and can’t get a test.

@islockdownoveryet I know how much kids can spray when they're talking... I'm definitely wearing a fluid resistant mask!

So instead of slating school staff who are being put at risk, get a grip, accept schools will be closed if this continues and write to your MP.

People aren't, it's the teedious comments about everyone else working from home that are annoying. Also write the MP and say what? We know you're working on a new testing system, you're already testing more people per head than the rest of Europe, but can you hurry up and magic the facilities now please. Schools being closed for short periods is better than being closed full stop.

Yes its the schools fault cant blame everyone who was jetting of on holiday or people going pub or mixing households. The rise started towards end of summer holidays my dd school closed after 2days of opening apart from 1 year not because any pupils had it but because the teachers had it the teachers that had probably been making the most of there last week or 2 off.(not that I blame them why shouldn't they when everyone else clearly was) but no of course its the kids fault. Every1 looking to blame the schools/kids so pubs can stay open its ridiculous.

We know you're working on a new testing system, you're already testing more people per head than the rest of Europe, but can you hurry up and magic the facilities now please

Is that you Matt? Or is it Dido? Apparently there was no way to predict there'd be a rise in potential cases in September. We needed the glut of testing now, and no, it's not good enough.

@letsghostdance

You need something like this!
www.wish.com/product/5d3ff1cc1044ef6471ee7627?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=GB&_force_currency_code=GBP&pid=googleadwords_int&c=%7BcampaignId%7D&ad_cid=5d3ff1cc1044ef6471ee7627&ad_cc=GB&ad_curr=GBP&ad_price=8.00&campaign_id=8703990225&retargeting=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwwab7BRBAEiwAapqpTGXNRDF4FM4ObYZ5Xuo55wa3vzUE1asvoUsp3VDX66UaQPgBUduDGxoCIl0QAvD_BwE

The reality is that most of the spread in schools now is due to adults ignoring rules over the summer and all the entitled parents ‘needing’ a summer holiday abroad. The threads on here of people not feeling they could cope without their fix of France and plotting to beat the restrictions were a joke. I don’t get why people are so short sighted but they will be the first to shout if they cannot work because schools are shut, they can’t work and their kids deserve an education.

@Keepdistance

They are denying it's schools. However there are over 1000 cases in sxhools and several have multiple teachers. Im quite angry i want my dc at school but there are no measures my 8yo already needed a covid test after a week from a virus from school.

Absolutely. They are in total denial. It is schools.

@Leafbeans

So instead of slating school staff who are being put at risk, get a grip, accept schools will be closed if this continues and write to your MP.

People aren't, it's the teedious comments about everyone else working from home that are annoying. Also write the MP and say what? We know you're working on a new testing system, you're already testing more people per head than the rest of Europe, but can you hurry up and magic the facilities now please. Schools being closed for short periods is better than being closed full stop.

The fact they said they had the testing capacity, which they don’t. They said children don’t spread it, they do. They also said we would have a functioning test and trace system. Schools will close if this continues, that’s just a fact. Which is why Boris oh so subtly mentioned it in his speech, he’s not stupid. This time though, it’s the rule breakers fault and not theirs. Nice deflection.

Education settings are preparing for remote learning (reluctantly) it would be wise to consider that’s now on the table rather than burying your head in the sand. No one wants schools to close, they will if this keeps up. Without the promised testing and “Covid secure” measures (which don’t exist) it’s not sustainable.

I have no idea what the answer is.

I'm in local lockdown in the NW, schools have only been open a few weeks here cases were well on the rise before this. As far as I know no local school has closed completely, a few schools have bubbles isolating but these have been from singular cases in each bubble not multiple. The rise in my area is 100% down to socialising in big groups and no SD, mask wearing compliance has been fairly high from what I can see, it seems the moment the masks come off the remembrance to SD goes too.

I'm not saying you shouldn't wear what you want .

Try explaining to a 5 year old they get to go to school this week. But not next week. But maybe the week after that.
They don’t get a chance to build any lasting friendships.
They don’t get a chance to build a relationship with their teacher.
They miss massive chunks of learning. They get no continuity or stability. It just doesn’t work.

Well its simple.
The children may not be affected by it. They do however affect others.
One child is in contact with lots of children. We have no idea who they are spreading it to in reality as, as we know, children can be asymptomatic.
One child has it. They spread it to other children in the class. They go home and spread it to their family.
A teacher gets it. She goes home and spreads it to her family.
I have 30 children in one class and the same in another. All of them are potential carriers of the virus. Of course it spreads in schools!
The ONLY reason that schools havent closed is the economy. Thats it.
They DONT CARE about teachers or families getting it atm. As long as the transmission stops there. That is why in Scotlands families are not allowed to mix. Its to limit transmission from one family group to the other because it can be spread through schools.
Is this going to help me as a teacher? As a parent not to catch it? Nope!

Rubbish, every time we ease lockdown the numbers will rise as more people are socialising - Covid is not going away! We have to live with it, imagine if we kept track of the numbers of the common cold spreading or norovirus, wed never leave the house 🙄

It doesn’t work for YR11’s or YR13’s either, yet here we are. Through no fault of their school, in and out due to actual Covid in school.

@Itisasecret

People don’t want schools shut. I love having a full class and I will be devastated if schools close again. My children are in exam years. Boris fired the warning shots tonight, your children’s education is being put at risk by rule breakers.

No, it’s because the testing system has collapsed and teachers and their families are not a priority for testing. Yet despite schools being the 2nd biggest setting linked to outbreaks according to PHE. Second only to care homes who are prioritised for testing alongside the NHS.

Following the guidance, and the lack of testing schools will close because of staff shortages before you even talk about Covid closures. If it wasn’t so obvious it would be quite funny. The idea that adults and teachers don’t want children in school makes me so angry. They won’t have a choice of this shit show continues. NO CHOICE.

So instead of slating school staff who are being put at risk, get a grip, accept schools will be closed if this continues and write to your MP.

All of this. The Government have dropped the ball. This and care homes will end up being the scandal that this Government creates. God forbid if children get long term illness ordie of this virus .