I think this new variant of the virus infects children more as its been allowed to mutate due to school being open

[ssd]

Just my theory

I read on Reuters this new variant affects children more than the first one

I think this can only be because its been allowed to mutate between children in schools due to the poor safety precautions

I know viruses mutate but there must be a reason its been allowed to mutate

As I said just my thoughts on it all

Thanks for the theory but I would rather wait for scientific evidence before speculating. There is enough fear and scaring going on just now and I personally would rather the children continue with going to school and getting an education.

Viruses are supposed to mutate, so while I see where you’re coming from, mutations were always going to happen when schools are open, whether it be now or two years from now. Unless we cancelled school forever, this was inevitable.

I wouldn't presume to have an opinion given this isn't my area of professional expertise. I haven't studied virology and have no experience in the field.

Experts believe it developed in an immunosuppressed sufferer.

That isn’t the prevailing theory about how the mutations were acquired. I believe they think it’s to do with chronic infection and antibody treatment in an immunocompromised patient. Obviously if it does now spread more easily through young people then it has gained an adaptive advantage though!

There is a hypothesis that it originated from a chronically infected patient.

I think you're just making stuff up now.

X-post with others. here is a link to a paper where it’s discussed if anyone is interested.

Excellent theory ProfessorSsd. If only it hadn't been 'allowed' to mutate. Someone should have stopped it - perhaps with a from telling off and a hard stare?

*firm telling off

I think what people forget is that corona viruses are a group of viruses and the same ones that cause the common cold up to sars, mers etc so they of course mutate it's not uncommon for this to happen.

How about we wait for real info instead of making stuff up

Experts already have their hypotheses.

Speculative nonsense from people who don’t have any actual knowledge on the subject is unlikely to help anyone.

The mutation could have happened anywhere. However, we, in the UK, uniquely among all nations, have provided this mutation a perfect environment to spread.

In pretty much all other countries children wear masks from the age of 6 in schools. We know it's spread primarily via exhalations... the airborne route. There is no barrier to this route of transmissions in the UK - none at all - uniquely in the world. No social distancing in schools (they're shoulder to shoulder and touching all the time - I've seen it myself at both schools my children attend)

So we didn't cause the mutation, but we did provide the perfect environment in which this mutation could come to dominate.

And come to dominate very quickly

We did provide the perfect environment for an airborne virus to mutate. For all the reasons JK has said.

It does seem similar if not the same mutations have occurred elsewhere - so why haven't they taken over like this one has here?

I mean, allowing 30 kids to sit in a classroom right next to each other without masks for 6 hours a day isn't a GREAT idea is it, in this scenario? It's hardly making any attempt to reduce risk.

Masks would cost nothing and most kids in other countries wear them in the classroom from age 6. Why are we such an outlier?

I'll wait for the experts to confirm this before joining the rich, wfh or sahm parent mob who want schools closed. Thanks though.

Hasnt Corona mutated dozens of times already??

I also have a theory. I think it prefers coffee and croissants as opposed to a beer as cafes have been allowed to stay open but bars have been closed. 🙄

This has also been on Twitter via an epidemiologist.

The virus has been struggling to spread through distancing and mask wearing. So it’s mutated to spread amongst kids who have no mitigation procedures in place.

Seems blindingly obvious to me🤷🏼‍♀️

I don't want schools closed. Bloody hell the last thing I want is to go back to having to homeschool.

Which is why I'm so angry that there are no masks in schools, unlike pretty much everywhere else. Masks in school = open schools.

I have friends in other countries who have kids of 5 quite happily wearing masks all day in school. They are happy to do something to protect everyone - guess what their schooling is less disrupted too.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

This has also been on Twitter via an epidemiologist.

The virus has been struggling to spread through distancing and mask wearing. So it’s mutated to spread amongst kids who have no mitigation procedures in place.

Seems blindingly obvious to me🤷🏼‍♀️

It is basic biology really.

Yep!! It will definitely come out in the future that we encouraged this mutation by our ridiculous schools policy. Many scientists are coming out to basically say as much.

@SoscaredforJan could you provide a link please? My Google search didn't bring anything up.