Covid in DC’s school :(

[Gregorathegreat]

I knew it was coming but am somehow still a bit shocked... anyone else experienced this? Not in DCs bubble but can already trace a direct link through siblings. Not sure what we can do really other than keep up hand washing, wearing masks at drop off, eat healthy/sleep well (not managing the last one currently!).

Im well aware the kids themselves are likely to be okay. In fact the threat of asymptomatic transmission scares me.

However I might well not be. I don't want to leave them without a parent and this is the case for many families!

Yes, and it's not just leaving them without a parent, it's long covid rendering you disabled and unable to parent effectively or work and pay the mortgage.

It's not panicking, it's being sensible to acknowledge the real risks. At the moment France numbers continue to rise, but Spain numbers falling. The difference? I think it's that children from age 6 are wearing masks in schools in Spain.

Masks are proven to reduce transmission and reduce severity of the disease for the wearer (so this is important if we want to keep teachers from going on long term sick leave). I understand the desire not to close schools but to just let covid rip in schools - with all the knock on effects that will have - without taking a basic mitigating step like masks is frankly ludicrous.

It doesn't harm children to wear a mask in school. It will protect them and their family. I think as the children of today grow up, many of them will look at the data from around the world and wonder why so many of their peer group were left bereaved or with disabled parents because the adults in charge had some weird hang up about masks.

The director of the CDC says face masks may be more important than a vaccine www.cnbc.com/2020/09/16/cdc-director-says-face-masks-may-provide-more-protection-than-coronavirus-vaccine-.html

My dd's school has a masks at all times rule. Except when eating (they eat outside).

They are the only school locally with cases ironically.

So far so good in my kids school. There are over 2000 kids and no positive cases as yet. I probably spoke too soon now!

I am not really sure why people keep posting about cases as if they assumed it would bypass them.

There appears to be numerous posts with similar titles 'Covid in my DC school/nursery/etc etc etc'
Shame they cannot dump in the same thread since looking for more interesting topics means having to scroll through (or occasionally) comment on yet another one!

You don't say - covid is spreading! 😲

A facepalm moment if every there was one 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

We had 9 non-teaching staff in the first 2 days of term, but since then there has only been 2 yr13 students confirmed, so fortunately my year 7 son's bubble has not burst.

With covid and a horrid common cold, this is the first week DS2 has done a full week still time for the school to call today I suppose

We’ve had three members of staff at nursery testing positive and a full closure for two weeks. I’m hoping that’s our closure our of the way, but I guess the reality is there are likely to be other periods of isolation and closure. This time it has been particularly challenging as we are both much busier at work than we were during lockdown.

They are the only school locally with cases ironically

Good that the headteacher has taken decisive action - far less likely to spread in school with masks as per director of CDC's comments. Your Headteacher is doing the best thing for keeping the school open as long as possible.

Yes, my 7yr old is currently sat here talking my ear off as someone in his class has tested positive. He hasn't had any symptoms so far though

We had a case reported in DS's secondary yesterday. For the size of the school and the massive catchment, I'm surprised it took that long.

No other details about the year group, or even if it was a pupil or staff. DS hadn't even heard about it at school. We live in a relatively low infection rate area, although increasing. Life goes on, I guess.

Yes we've got a few in nearly every school in our borough. DC1 has 3 cases in their school and DC2 has 2 in their school.

Nothing in my DC primary....yet! There's been a few classes isolating in some of the schools local but I'm told these are singular cases rather than outbreaks. 2 separate cases in DS high school just close contacts sent home to isolate rather than whole year. Im in a high risk area.

We’re also in a low risk area and there was a positive case two weeks ago that closed my child’s bubble. No transmission though which is good news. We’re back on Monday and everything crossed.

There has been 8 cases in my DC's school so far. Not in their bubble yet.

About 9 cases at my children's secondary school. My son has just gone back to school after self isolating.

The child in his year who had it, my son sits next to in one subject, none of us have had symptoms though.

We had confirmation of a case in my DS's school year yesterday. One entire set and one entire form from Y9 were sent home, plus their form teacher. I thought the whole year was a bubble and they mix the sets together for PE and tech, but only the one set has been told to isolate.

@FourTeaFallOut

We had a case in DC's school three weeks ago and there was no further spread within the school. It's not a perfect system but the domino of bubbles popping isn't inevitable.

Same here. It's not inevitable that it will spread further.

@3littlewords

Its inevitable it will probably come into all schools at some point as all viruses do. All you can do is keep an eye out for symptoms, make sure you don't get too close to anyone who's vulnerable incase it's spreading asymptomatically but ultimately if your DC does end up with covid the chances are it will be mild and not long lasting, try to keep things in perspective

I wish people including the mainstream press would not say this. It completely misses the point. Ecv children and children from families with ecv people must attend school by law, or face fines or be deregistered and home educated at the parents expense! I am not the slightest bit worried that dd will catch covid and get very ill. Statistically this is highly unlikely. I am terrified she will bring the virus home to vulnerable family members. Imagine how she will feel if this happens.

So far both schools haven’t had cases. I’m sure they will soon. A lot of other local primary’s abs secondary’s have had cases. Our local paper reports all the closures of classes/bubbles.

Imagine how she will feel if this happens

Would you really make your child feel guilty and responsible for passing on covid to someone vulnerable just for going to school and being educated? And unless no one else in the family goes through the door you can't 100% say that child is the one that's passed on the virus

We’re in a really high risk area and in the school I work in there have been seven students and three members of staff positive. It’s horrible, I’m vulnerable and every Monday morning I wonder if this will be the week I bring it home to my family, or if my DD will catch it at her school (and pass it into her grandparents before showing symptoms).

I wish people including the mainstream press would not say this. It completely misses the point. Ecv children and children from families with ecv people must attend school by law, or face fines or be deregistered and home educated at the parents expense!
I am not the slightest bit worried that dd will catch covid and get very ill. Statistically this is highly unlikely. I am terrified she will bring the virus home to vulnerable family members. Imagine how she will feel if this happens.

This.

Any child over the age of about 7 or 8 will be able to add 2+2 - it's not about someone else telling her that's what will have happened, kids aren't stupid - they can see the measures taken EVERYWHERE ELSE to stop covid spread aren't in schools.

And many children were in school socially distanced in the summer (when cases were lower) and were told then it was essential they socially distanced - but magically now, when cases are higher it isn't essential. Children know when things don't add up.

I am sure the poster and all parents would stress that it wasn't the child's fault - OF COURSE - but it doesn't mean the child won't feel upset and angry that they were forced into a situation where this was likely to happen.

Once they're old enough to use the internet they can see that UK schools do not have any of the measures considered by scientists world over as essential for safe school reopening. They will also be able to see how the proportion of coronavirus cases by sector has skyrocketed in schools since they opened.

Children really aren't stupid.

If the government gave extra money to headteachers they could take the best mitigation strategies for that school.

Children will know, increasingly as they grow older, that their parents and relatives were put in danger so the government didn't have to spend money. (and they'll see the government DID spend money on 'eat out to help out').

@3littlewords

Imagine how she will feel if this happens

Would you really make your child feel guilty and responsible for passing on covid to someone vulnerable just for going to school and being educated? And unless no one else in the family goes through the door you can't 100% say that child is the one that's passed on the virus

I never said such a thing! How ridiculous. Infact I would consider it my responsibility for sending her to school. She doesnt go on her own. People can bury their heads in the sand regarding schools but there is no denying numbers are rising significantly in school age children, particularly in the north. I would hate for schools to close again but we need better mitigation and we need it urgently or they will have no choice but to close them when hospitals become overwhelmed.

Yep.
Italy. First confirmed case yesterday. Class and all teachers to WFH until tested. Whole school closed and online till Monday for deep cleaning.
We're going to be in out in out shaking it all about for a while I think.

Do you know what I hope children will do if someone they love gets infected and very ill? Rather than feeling that they passed the virus on (which might be true, but not their fault).

I hope they blame the adults - the adults who did not stand up to this government and make them fund schools so they were safer. Like in Italy, like in Spain, like in Korea, like in many (not all) parts of the US.

It didn't have to be this way.

I can show my DD, if the worst happens, all the emails I sent to MPs, ministers, and headteachers (both of whom have agreed the current situation isn't good enough and have said they could make school safer if given more money - but with current budgets they can't).

So she'll at least know I tried.

@IloveJKRowling

Do you know what I hope children will do if someone they love gets infected and very ill? Rather than feeling that they passed the virus on (which might be true, but not their fault).

I hope they blame the adults - the adults who did not stand up to this government and make them fund schools so they were safer. Like in Italy, like in Spain, like in Korea, like in many (not all) parts of the US.

It didn't have to be this way.

I can show my DD, if the worst happens, all the emails I sent to MPs, ministers, and headteachers (both of whom have agreed the current situation isn't good enough and have said they could make school safer if given more money - but with current budgets they can't).

So she'll at least know I tried.

Very well said. Add the adults who, even as we speak, elsewhere on MN are saying they no longer obey the rules because they've "had enough".