The infection rate for pupils last week was 2,509 out of 100,000!!

[SoscaredforJan]

The Times today had reported that the infection rate for secondary pupils last week was 2,509 out of 100,000!! With the rate for primary school pupils close behind.

That’s absolutely shocking.

Rates of 300+ per 100,000 in the South East led to the emergency Tier 4 announcement at the weekend.

Rates among secondary school children are approx nine times this and primaries not far behind.

There can no longer be any conversation about schools remaining open. They need to close to all but key workers and the vulnerable and not reopen until the government has provided the money and means to make them truly ‘Covid secure’ or until enough people have been vaccinated.

How many deaths will we have in a months time when those infections have transferred to the elderly and vulnerable? How many more mutations will we have if the virus is allowed to carry on running through children? I for one do not want to find out that they vaccine no longer works.

It’s time to do what needs to be done. It’s tough and awful for everyone but it has to be done. The schools need to close.

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@noblegiraffe but europe are using masks there casea are also rising masks alone will not stop this
Wearing a cloth mask for 5 hrs etc , mines damp after 30 mins [/quote]
Indeed. We need more than masks.

But saying 'No masks' and not saying 'Yes anything else' is now just obviously reckless.

• teacher and or teaching staff wearing masks, wool protect the pupils not themselves.

For everyone in the prom to be protected, they all need to wear a mask.

@Thesunisstillshining yes they do but they are not sticking there socks on there face and actually not changing into pe kit now so going in , coats are generally being worn as cold with windows open.
But yes most people are sticking masks in their pockets inc teenagers ,

@noblegiraffe i think
We need to learn a little more about this strain as who knows if masks are effective
I have teenagers who would have no issue wearing a mask but I don't think I would want to assume because masks are being worn its safer
Like I said cases are going up across europe where they do wear masks and its hard to find actual school data though

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@Abraxan but other countries using masks are also having high cases I think relying on just masks is also risky[/quote]
I don't think anyone is suggesting only relying on masks alone.

How are there schools doing regarding cases and closures?

Their, not there

We need to learn a little more about this strain as who knows if masks are effective

We know that no mask is definitely not effective.

Agree we need to learn more about this strain. Divining in headfirst with no mitigation measures to see what happens would seem foolhardy though.

@EmmanuelleMakro

Definitely no masks on classes-please. Am a secondary teacher and you cannot hear what the pupils say if they are wearing a mask (some already do). Stats show STILL only around 40 deaths in under 40’s in the UK since the beginning of the pandemic despite many thousands infected -totally disproportionate response to demand masks in schools.

1. ...only around 40 deaths in under 40’s in the UK...

This is simply not true! Feel free to look up ONS data. It's more than 3k under 59. And I count the 40-59 band in this as well, as many parents fall into this category.

1. Many other countries are managing just fine. So you'd just let this rip through schools because you'd need to remind student to speak up? I'd rather kids speak up tbh