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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

New Variant and Impact on children

169 replies

Ohbabybab · 01/01/2021 22:15

As MNHQ are looking in to the other poster on this topic I am starting a new thread for this discussion. They will be able to see I’m a long term poster so no reason to delete.

OP posts:
MNHQ
HopeMumsnet · 01/01/2021 22:34

Hi there,
It's been a few things tonight, a mix of inflammatory titling and, from what we can see in the background, some single issue posting and repeat pbps.
As we wrote on the other thread (that we left, btw, so there's maybe not the tsunami of deletions that these threads suggest...)

"No conspiracy, this is a parenting site, of course you're allowed to discuss it, all we ask is that you do so with due regards to the truth. Mumsnet is justifiably well known for our members ability to interrogate research and to have a good poke at newspaper articles."

We're all parents here, we're all going to be concerned if the Telegraph article pans out (though we note it is already being disputed), but when posting on here we all have to pay attention to the truth and to calm, informative posting and not run the risk of scaremongering to our fellow MNers.

Hope that helps explain things from our perspective. We have a lot of posters, and try to balance everyone's needs as best we can.

Candiscophonous · 01/01/2021 22:36

.

Bimbleboo · 01/01/2021 22:37

.

Foobydoo · 01/01/2021 22:37

It is not scaremongering.
Parents need to know what is happening to weigh up the risks for their families.

Original poster
Ohbabybab · 01/01/2021 22:37

@HopeMumsnet thank you for your response. Are you able to link us to the disputing of the article?

OP posts:
Foobydoo · 01/01/2021 22:38

@IloveJKRowling

Hearsay is allowed in pretty much all other threads. So why not here?

On the schools threads, it was all anecdata from teachers etc. They were proved right (again and again and again).

When you're in the middle of a rapidly evolving pandemic, listening to all sources seems reasonable (whilst obviously giving greater weight to peer reviewed science, say, but that takes months and months to appear).

It seems to me that if the new variant infects children in greater numbers then more children will be badly affected - it's a numbers game - even if the disease is no more inherently harmful. The more people infected the more will get very ill in absolute terms (even if the proportion stays the same) - that's why we have so many in hospital now.

But I am confused because there have been reports that the new variant may give rise to higher viral load and it's been well established that higher viral load leads to more severe disease. www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30354-4/fulltext

My best guess at the moment is that basically we don't know enough about the new variant to know the answers to the many questions yet (whether it's more or less harmful to any age group, whether social distancing and masks still work as well as before etc etc).

Personally, given we seem to be operating without much knowledge I'm inclined to be precautionary when it comes to my children.

Great post
Cheerios444 · 01/01/2021 22:40

@Sickofthiscrapp

I’m near London in tier 4 but schools are open. Just received an email from my child’s school that they are open on Monday. I’m scared to send her in. I’m CEV. If I keep her home, will they fine me??
@sickofthiscrapp

Keep her home, have an honest open conversation with the school, I
know a lot of schools are not strictly issuing fines but are looking at the individual situation.

And even if fines do come up, it won't be an issue till 21 consecutive school days are missed - that's 4 weeks from now

My school is closed as in Tier 4 and a extremely high risk area but I researched before hand as would have taken DC out of schools hadnt closed

inquietant · 01/01/2021 22:41

This Twitter thread about the new variant, schools, young people is informative I felt mobile.twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1344774555718590464

Satsumatrifle · 01/01/2021 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 01/01/2021 22:44

Well said, Hope

ofwarren · 01/01/2021 22:44

Placemarking
Thank you

weddingplanning15 · 01/01/2021 22:45

I am really worried. My DC are back on Tuesday in a tier 3 area. I have to work but if I didn't I would keep them off. I dont know what to do.

TillysMum02 · 01/01/2021 22:45

I just googled our local mp

His social media came up and a post 30 mins ago said he was asking government why we are tier 4 but not closing our schools and could it be considered as we are very near London

MNHQ
HopeMumsnet · 01/01/2021 22:45

Not any more, unfortunately, as it was on a deleted thread, but it did catch my eye as it went. Hopefully the person who posted will return now that this thread exists.

KeysDontBelongInTheFridge · 01/01/2021 22:47

@Satsumatrifle love the fact you wrote ‘Sunday’ evening! Just had a mild panic as realised I had no idea what day it is - gotta love Christmas!

Rudolphian · 01/01/2021 22:48

I've been to the twitter link and found her comments lacking any context at all. I doubt the telegraph article sheds any extra light on this if it's just based on her comments.
I've wrote a few long posts about why I think there is an increase in the number of kids being affected but they were on the threads that went poof.
Personally I'm not worried. I think it was to be expected more kids were going to be affected. Especially as they are the only part of society that are being kept in small rooms in groups of 30 or more with little social distancing. If the same was being done with adults more adults would be getting affected instead.

Wingingthis · 01/01/2021 22:49

Place marking too

Billi77 · 01/01/2021 22:49

@MushMonster

Yes, I am guilty of underestimating this virus. I thought it would just be in the news, like SARS or the swine and bird flu. Never to affect my boring life because I was not travelling anywhere. Few months later.....
Same for a lot of us
KeysDontBelongInTheFridge · 01/01/2021 22:50

@TillysMum02 Thanks for this. I googled mine before and nothing came up. We’re higher than many parts of London. I’m keeping fingers crossed that he’ll do something about it.

Achristmaspudsskidu · 01/01/2021 22:50

though we note it is already being disputed

Can you tell us who is disputing it?

Billi77 · 01/01/2021 22:52

More people and therefore more children are getting infected and ill because it’s winter and so many mixed over the holidays indoors (and outdoors). And with schools open it meant children got infected. They did at peak of first wave too but there were NO TESTS to prove it.

Barbie222 · 01/01/2021 22:53

@Achristmaspudsskidu

though we note it is already being disputed

Can you tell us who is disputing it?

Some posters on the deleted thread shared their experience of working on paediatric wards, which wasn't anything out of the ordinary for the time of year.
BloggersBlog · 01/01/2021 22:53

Why are so many people putting "placemarking" posts up? Just "watch" the thread and bookmark the last place you read to Hmm

deliciouschilli · 01/01/2021 22:54

It would be helpful to know how many of the children in hospital have underlying health conditions.
My daughter is immune suppressed and was shielding but then told it was safe to go back to school..
I would like to be able to make an informed decision about it this time.

ConfusedcomMum · 01/01/2021 22:55

Watching with interest 🍿