Government removes statement schools are not considered "high risk settings" in guidance.

[IloveJKRowling]

Reported in the TES

www.tes.com/news/Covid-dfe-cuts-schools-arent-high-risk-line-guidance

From the article:
"The government has removed a paragraph from its Covid guidance stating that schools are not considered "high risk settings".

The Department for Education (DfE) previously stated in its guidance for schools that Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) advise that schools are not considered high risk work environments, and it is "therefore appropriate for teachers and other school staff to return to their workplace setting".

But following an update to the guidance today, this detail has vanished."

@Ecosse I understand about vulnerable kids thank you.

Can't link at the moment but on the '' pure data '' thread someone has posted an interesting article by Cambridge uni on ventilation in rooms relying on other means than windows but also masks.

My main take away was that masks, even though there will be some 'leakage' slow down the momentum of aerosols flying out out of our mouths as we talk.

Laughing etc really does push them out!

Masks slow down Momentum and this helps to stop breath mixing and everyone getting corona.

@WhyNotMe40

Ecosse is very incorrect

That's a reoccurring theme!!!!

I agree that masks should be worn in corridors and communal areas. They should not be worn in classrooms as they are an impediment to communication and learning.

I also think that all windows should be open at all times in classrooms. I would issue fines to schools caught closing windows.

I'm so sorry @monkeytennis97. What a horrendous thing for you to have to go through. I really hope the situation has improved for you and your DC.

The Tories also claim to be passionate about social mobility and 'levelling up'.

They should not be worn in classrooms as they are an impediment to communication and learning.

Evidence please.

Esscose..

Whilst your own health is an important factor when thinking about whether you will suffer from the corona, your amount of viral load also matters.

Many students are not showing any symptoms so how on earth can you say your happy to teach due to your own health when actually, much of this comes down to viral load?

You could be in a class, with BTW no sd, lots of jolly laughing students japing around... Laughing (pushing the virus out on a high speed train) whilst showing no symptoms but loading you up with enough virus to make you quite ill..

Esp if you happen to catch a cold etc at that time!

I’m currently sleeping on a blow up bed in a box room.

I teach I’m not at particular high risk but my husband is very vulnerable (he also has a shit back so I get the air bed). I hate coming home and potentially passing on a virus that could kill him.

People don’t live in isolation, it’s not just about their risk. It’s the risk of the loved ones they see everyday.

@TheHouseonHauntedHill

I have individually evaluated my own risk and as I am under 60 with no health conditions, am happy that I am at far greater risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road traffic or domestic accident than from COVID.

I would be more than happy to teach in a school.

When, it's also the mental strain isn't it, walking into danger every day.

Wondering if your own dc bring it back.

@TheHouseonHauntedHill

My DC’s mental health has significantly improved since they’ve been back at school interacting with teachers and other D.C.

Ecosse

I would be more than happy to teach in a school

That’s lovely but you don’t actually work in a school. I do, I’m very likely not to suffer too much with Covid. My husband however is extremely vulnerable. So you’ll forgive me if I’m a bit nervous whilst I continue to teach full time.

@Ecosse Your source seems to be missing 14,000 deaths.

I’d also love to know what counts as a pre existing condition considering that so many people have things like asthma, diabetes, overweight, obesity etc and lead completely normal lives. I don’t feel reassured if they’re dying just because they’ve been lumped into some ‘decrepit anyway’ category by people like you.

They won’t be open by Christmas. That’s a real shame because they need to be open. If only they had planned properly from the start and then it could have been safe for all.

@Hopeisathingwithfeathers

It doesn’t include the deaths in care homes. By their very nature, the vast majority of these will be over 75 with health conditions.

I agree that the shameful lack of planning and the people (as evidenced on this thread) who are too arrogant to listen to education professionals mean that school closures are coming (are already happening in fact) and soon. Our local school has shut down altogether till after half term at least. They ran out of non isolating staff.

Ecosse, like many including the government, are quite willing for teachers and their families to get sick, as long as dc remain in school.

@Ecosse "I would be more than happy to teach in a school".

But you don't. You don't have any idea what it is actually like being jostled about all day, kids laughing and joking/coughing on purpose, singing and calling/shouting out in poorly ventilated rooms. Hour upon hour of rowdy teenagers. Then you get It don't feel well' or you wonder why someone has X in the register when you taught them the day before...then someone might leave your lesson as their family member has tested positive and they came into school anyway... it's very stressful, all this on top of your normal teaching stress.

Re masks-other countries use them for staff and pupils in lessons with no problems.

If the risks are low why can the government not provide statistics with how many school staff have been infected nationwide since the start of term? If someone was to submit a FOI request to provide this what are the odds that the government will respond openly?

@2X4B523P

If the risks are low why can the government not provide statistics with how many school staff have been infected nationwide since the start of term? If someone was to submit a FOI request to provide this what are the odds that the government will respond openly?

The risks aren't that low and no one would want to examine them closely who might be held accountable.

Ecosse If you want those kids in school, the best thing to do would be to reduce transmission in schools.

Schools cannot stay open without teachers.

Also, socially distanced classes and smaller class sizes will improve the amount of attention each child gets and their quality of education.

Only 307 healthy people under the age of 65 have died with COVID.

I believe that figure is only those who died in hospital isn't it? Still it will be the right ball park because (as you say) most of those were in care homes. We certainly missed some early deaths too from lack of testing but it can be assumed they follow a similar profile in age and pre-existing conditions.

The main is issue is that it includes any pre-existing conditions which is a much broader category than clinically extremely vulnerable.

A lot of teachers will have some clinical vulnerability- there won't be enough staff to run schools without them and regardless the government will never allow them to teach from home.

I would be more than happy to teach in a school.

I'd be happy to have a bash at this doctoring lark, so I don't know why the NHS are whining about ICU capacity either.

They say they've contacted the DfE for comment, so let's hope they respond and explain why they've done this.

Oh, are you new to DfE media comments? They always respond with something bland that completely ignores the points raised.

It’ll be something like ‘schools have worked hard to implement safety measures such as one way systems and bubbles enabling the vast majority of children to safely return to the classroom.’