Have your school-age DC had less illness this year compared to other winters?

[cheeseismydownfall]

We have three DC - two in the same primary (Y6 and Y4) and one at secondary (Y8).

The younger two are currently under the weather with their third cold of the winter. They (predictably) got their first within a week of going back in September, another mild cold before half term, and then this latest one a few days ago. All very normal - sore throat, snotty nose, feeling a bit crappy, but getting on with things as normal.

As I said, this is all very normal for this time of year. In fact, it seems exactly the same as any other year. But surely with all of the covid measures in place in their school (class bubbles, facing the front, windows open, frequent handwashing etc), shouldn't the children be less likely to pick up normal cold viruses as a result?

It makes me wonder how effective these measures really are in preventing covid transmission in schools, if the incident of common colds seems on a par with a normal year.

Obviously I only have my own experience to go on, so I am curious to know if anyone else's children have had less illnesses than usual?

The PHE report also covers other respiratory infectious diseases. Rhinovirus was rife in Sept as usual (it was this that overwhelmed the Covid testing) but that's partly because the virus is more robust than a Coronavirus and so not as easily controlled with hygiene. The interesting bit will be RSV and Flu and how many cases of them there are compared to normal.

We havent had anything yet this winter. Not even the slightest cold symptoms. Measurements seem to be working well for mine.
A friend of mine teaches in my kids schools and she said its crazy how many kids get sent in when sick, even with high temps. Now they are very strict and they measure temp on entry and send kids home if they are sick.

Mine have definitely had fewer illnesses this year (touch wood) as have I. It is very nice! The only illness they have had between March and now is one of them had a slight sore throat, which I put down to having to wear a mask all day at school, and no snotty noses at all.

My two are normally germ ridden from September to March. Not this year. This is the best year we've had cold wise. I have put it down to the better hand washing, but also we are both working from home and therefore not picking up bugs on the tube and in the office.

My kids have definitely been healthier in terms of coughs/colds/sore throats. We are both working at home and have also been much healthier as have our friends and family. I presume it’s because of the extra measures.
The teachers in our family say there’s been less stomach bugs in their schools too.

Nope! Chicken Pox and 3 colds

Yes far fewer

My two haven't been sick at all this year no colds or snotty noses and we would usually have at 1-2 days off ill at this stage in the year.

Far,far fewer, In fact none when normally it would have been a fair few especially in Sep.

Noticed a HUGE difference.

no, but we don't generally get much more than runny nose a couple of times a year anyway.

Now I've said that they'll get really ill won't they!

My two- primary & pre school age- have definitely had fewer colds/illnesses this year...earlier this year I put it down to lockdown.

With the return to school in September I accepted the probable onslaught as is usual each year. But so far they've both been ok (touch wood!)

DC1 has missed almost 3 weeks of primary school due to having to self-isolate as there was a positive case in their bubble, twice.

Now I've written this post, I do accept that somebody in the household will become symptomatic in the next 24 hours!

DD hasn't had less. But it's a purple yellow spotted moon before she gets ill, it's so rare.
No nits during the pandemic though so I'm taking that as a win, and secretly hoping that with 2m distances being the norm that the little effers will become extinct.

We've got a great sickness bug going round our secondary school at the moment. Nightmare.