Sir Keir Starmer calling for nursery closure!

[Boogie5678]

Sorry I’m not sure how to link this but it’s on BBC news.

Nurseries were closed first time round to limit spread, we ve now a far more contagious virus, so virulent that going for a walk, on your own but outside of your local area can get you a £200 fine and Police will be 100% supported in doing so.

I'm afraid that if Matt Hancock said we could all hug a stranger, Whitty would be bought on to say it was an acceptable but low risk activity, much like he could never bring himself to criticise Cummings and all the support DC got from the Govt & PM for testing his eyesight.

It is not 100% clear you cannot by law walk outside your local area as the regulations do not ban that. They use the word reasonable. It must be "reasonably necessary" to be outside. there is nothing at all about distance travelled, not driving to start your walk or anything like that in the law - the statutory instruments. The guidance is not legally binding.

@IrishMamaMia

Whitty said he thought risk of nurseries low and not worth closing on BBC breakfast. I just saw it on the BBC news site. That's promising at least.

Can we get him north of border instead of the twits that we have.

@Xenia

It is not 100% clear you cannot by law walk outside your local area as the regulations do not ban that. They use the word reasonable. It must be "reasonably necessary" to be outside. there is nothing at all about distance travelled, not driving to start your walk or anything like that in the law - the statutory instruments. The guidance is not legally binding.

I don't think there is anything wrong with driving somewhere more remote for a walk. I think meeting friends there is a bit stupid.

Nurseries were closed first time round to limit spread, we ve now a far more contagious virus

In lockdown 1 nurseries were closed as we didn't know if young children were super spreaders. As yet I've seen nothing to indicate nursery ages children are spreading the virsus to such a degree that closing nurseries will have a huge impact on slowing the spread.

Unless there is overwhelming evidence that nurseries and nursery aged children are responsible for a large proportion of the increased numbers then it's blindingly obvious closing them would cause more damage in terms of grandparent care and key workers having to stay at home than keeping them open.

Waiting for overwhelming evidence is why we have such high infection and death rates.
If primary school children spread CV, then why wouldn't nursery children and the adult staff looking after them?

Govt needs to provide support and yes, for key workers, childcare too just as they do for school aged children.

If whitty says they are low I'm inclined to believe him, he isn't exactly one who has been downplaying risk or emitting how he feels about things even if it goes against government guidance.

@Backbee

If whitty says they are low I'm inclined to believe him, he isn't exactly one who has been downplaying risk or emitting how he feels about things even if it goes against government guidance.

When has he ever contradicted the Government ? even over Cummings, he said what he was told to say. Van Tam said more and disappeared from our TV screens for a while.

So many people are key/critical workers that closing nurseries would just mean fewer nurses able to work and women losing career gains and equality and plenty of nurseries being able to justify having loads of children in anyway. best just to keep them open.

I think JVT was getting too popular for Bojo’s liking.

@TheKeatingFive
YOU think it is selfish for nursery workers to be given the vaccine? You are actually asking other people to work in a unsafe environment for YOU. How do you know how they will react to having Covid? I hope you accept your own selfishness in all of this. Unbelievable.

Ultimately, if they close nurseries it will be mainly women over 60 looking after the children as parents will have to turn to grandparents. I guess those with GP's under that age and still working f/t will be screwed.

YOU think it is selfish for nursery workers to be given the vaccine?

Healthy, young workers demanding to get the vaccine before older vulnerable people, yes.

If you’re under 40 with no underlying conditions the flu is more deadly. Yet who ever refused to work in flu season? Do the majority of Nursery workers even get the flu vaccine most years?

I would support any vulnerable nursery staff being furloughed for the foreseeable.

But we’ve all become very hysterical about our risk. This is a mild illness for most. The problem is when it’s not (which is concentrated among an older age group) and the impact that has on the health service. That is what the vaccine has to address first, not healthy young people.

@TheKeatingFive

I would support any vulnerable nursery staff being furloughed for the foreseeable.

Surely vaccination would be far cheaper than furloughing. They should be given the choice

Surely vaccination would be far cheaper than furloughing. They should be given the choice

The health service/care sector/over 65s/CEV need to take priority re the vaccine. The purpose of that is to avoid overrunning the nhs, which is our most immediate problem.

Then yes, offer it to nursery staff. I don’t know what the timelines are for getting through those, I presume it will be several months.

@TheKeatingFive totally agree with you.

@TheKeatingFive
Would you be willing to accept that nurseries need to close if figures show they are aiding community transmission, if ‘protecting the NHS is our immediate concern’?

Considering the outrage and sheer panic shown on here at just the possibility of nursery closures, I would have expected you to support keeping the nurseries open by vaccinating their staff. They should be right up there with the HCPs (many of whom are also under 40 and not vulnerable) if you really think this is an essential service. Calling the staff selfish if they want a vaccine to keep safe whilst looking after your children is an interesting development.

Having read the thread and seen how important the nurseries are to so many people on here, I’d vote to bump nursery workers up the list.

I would have expected you to support keeping the nurseries open by vaccinating their staff.

I do support vaccinating their staff.

But not before over 65s, CEV, NHS workers and carehome workers because these cohorts represent a much more significant risk to the health service if they get it.

After that, absolutely.

I agree with you on this @BustopherPonsonbyJones especially as it sounds like most NHS staff will get done. Including those with similar roles to nursery workers.

*I do think this will take time though but would be curious to see what is happening with spare vaccines etc.

ETA, nhs workers who can work entirely from home should be deprioritised. I don’t know how many this would involve though.

@BustopherPonsonbyJones hopefully this is reassuring news and would incl all educational staff I imagine (I am school staff)
www.itv.com/news/2021-01-11/covid-police-teachers-and-other-critical-workers-to-be-at-top-of-rollouts-second-phase-vaccine-minister-says

Today a parent said at pick up time that it had been bliss without their 2 year old son at home today. This parent doesn’t work, child already does 3 days and they want them in full time. This is what is frustrating for Early Years workers.

@Idontbelieveit12

Today a parent said at pick up time that it had been bliss without their 2 year old son at home today. This parent doesn’t work, child already does 3 days and they want them in full time. This is what is frustrating for Early Years workers.

Yes it is frustrating but I presume she has paid for his place and unless the nursery are going to allow her to keep him at home and not expect her to pay then of course she's going to send him in.

Today a parent said at pick up time that it had been bliss without their 2 year old son at home today. This parent doesn’t work, child already does 3 days and they want them in full time. This is what is frustrating for Early Years workers.

Well if they are paying their child is no less important than any other.
Having a job shouldn't give you unfair access to childcare.
Close the lot then no falling out or whataboutery needed.