Eight cases in secondary school: what happens next?

[SteveWrong]

Hi, I know that bubbles don't burst any more, and that only close contacts are sent home, but what happens when we're looking at these kinds of numbers in the last week? Will anything else happen? Is there some kind of trigger point for any different kind of action?

My dd’s bubble was over 250, and was popped with just one case. To the best of her knowledge she hasn’t even been in the same room as him since March! This was only last week, too.

"Hi, I know that bubbles don't burst any more, and that only close contacts are sent home, but what happens when we're looking at these kinds of numbers in the last week? Will anything else happen? Is there some kind of trigger point for any different kind of action?"

My school had over 20 cases over 2 weeks and 15 staff were off at least 10 of which had covid.

They asked us to clear the windowsills before half term so they could be properly cleaned....

@walksen as I suspected then!

Class / yeargroup Bubbles do still burst ... plus close contacts at lunchtimes etc

Probably nothing will happen, apart from more cases.

Currently, it seems to vary very much by setting. Initially, schools contacted PHE and the DfE and were told very specifically what to do. Now there are so many cases both seem to have washed their hands of the matter and leave schools to do what they think are best.

In DH's secondary, close contacts are identified by seating plans and sent home. Initially, when there were more than 3 cases in a year group bubble they isolated the whole bubble but not any longer, just those identified as close contacts in the classroom. Kids are asked who they sat next to at lunchtime etc. No staff members are sent home at all as they are expected to distance from pupils at all times (even in classrooms where the front row of the desks is less than 2m from the front of the classroom where the teacher has to stand!).

I just wondered procedurally speaking, if there were any triggers etc. with PHE or whoever.

Local secondary has 14 cases in one year group. Whole year group has to self isolate for two weeks. Rest of school staying open 🤷🏼‍♀️

Woah! That's a lot in one year group!

We had one year group sent home to isolate after 6 cases in that bubble in 2 days. We have had over 40 cases in the school this term and that’s the only time the whole bubble has gone home. Normally it’s just those who have sat nearby.

8? Nothing.

There are schools in my area (tier 1 before lockdown) with 40-60 cases. Still open apart from close contacts.

In our case the bubble was 3 classes. However they only sent home the class where the case was. This was primary
For secondary dd it was close contacts only. Although Secondary have warned us that there could be whole bubble closure or ecmven school closure if necessary

@Danglingmod in a week???

8 cases nothing will happen, in my DC school there have been more than that in most year groups, and at least 30 cases in year 11.

One of our local schools has just completely closed for two weeks due to 16 positive results spread across year groups and teaching/non teaching staff.

So they've decided to get a professional company in to do a deep clean of the entire school, and have a sort of circuit breaker to stop it spreading round.

It's so disruptive.

We've currently got one staff member and three pupils positive. Two pupils from different years, and one pupil that was sent home as a close contact who has since tested positive.
Only close contacts being sent home here.

Round here schools seem to go with whole year group for even one case which i think is sensible as they can't be sure who was close to who at lunch and break especially in secondaries or who walked home with who

It does seem really inconsistent. I think in most areas, 8 cases in a week in one year group will trigger the whole year group being sent home.

I think it is looked at on a case by case basis though- so if all 8 are in the majority of the same classes, maybe only close contacts will be sent home, or if there is an obvious source of infection (e.g. all 8 share the same bus, all 8 went to the same party at half term).

If it is 8 across the school, it is likely only close contacts will be sent home, but whole year groups can still be sent home if it is felt to be justified.

@timeforanewstart

Round here schools seem to go with whole year group for even one case which i think is sensible as they can't be sure who was close to who at lunch and break especially in secondaries or who walked home with who

I agree that does often seem the most sensible approach. It is, however, not the official advice.

Our local infant school has closed for 2 weeks as they have 15 cases since last Monday- 4 by Friday and the rest over the weekend. They cannot staff adequately with so many classes isolating

This scenario is impossible.

Schools are covid-secure.

Sorry, should have added

So there's basically no trigger point with case numbers, and even if so many teachers go off, due to the smaller numbers of pupils in schools, the ratios will be ok? This is for secondary, where remaining teachers will just cover others?

Yep, officially no trigger point. Just 'close contacts' which is kids who sat directly next to in class and that they remember mucking about at break with. No wonder it's spreading like wildfire in schools.

There isn't a trigger point. There isn't a plan. There are no ratios. There's nothing. Schools will muddle along until they can carry on no longer due to lack of staff.