Government scientists discuss future plans for schools

[DayBath]

schoolsweek.co.uk/covid-19-nine-things-we-learned-from-scientists-at-education-committee/

Government scientists have been answering questions at a parliamentary committee and it looks like they're still sticking to the same ideas they had before this new variant.

• Children spread the virus by socialising outside school... We think...but we STILL haven't collected evidence
• When schools return there probably won't be any new measures in place to make it safer
• We will probably still use lateral flow tests because they are 80% ish accurate according to our sources (which contradict all other sources but we dont want to worry about all those)

I could go on, there's some real head scratching moments in the Q&A so I recommend everyone take a look.

I thought people might want to discuss this here as it shows the likely roadpath for schools after half term.

Very unimpressed myself, I think they are turning into politicians and moving away from the actual science.

If nothing new is put in place for schools then we will simply find ourselves back where we are now.

Aren't we hoping that by April everyone with a high chance of dying from covid will have been vaccinated?

If nothing new is put in place for schools then we will simply find ourselves back where we are now.

Exactly my thinking.
Surely it would be somewhat better to try masks or rotas in schools?

Aren't we hoping that by April everyone with a high chance of dying from covid will have been vaccinated?

But they'll most likely only have had one vaccination by then instead of both? I would think. Unless they start decreasing the 12 weeks.

Feb reopening "reasonable assumption". I'll take that. I will also get the t-shirt, buy the cd and read the book!

But they'll most likely only have had one vaccination by then instead of both? I would think. Unless they start decreasing the 12 weeks.

I am not sure that's a problem but time will tell.

Surely schools won't open in February. A lot of elderly people will be too close to their first dose. They could open in the second half of term 4 maybe.

Very clever of the virus to only spread once children are out of school.

Useless fuckwits. That Ed select committee was full of nonsense and out of date evidence.

I hope they go back. Asap. School, sport, clubs etc.
Before the whole generation is so traumatised.
Vaccinate school staff. Kids wear masks.
Back to normal please.

@glitterfarts

I hope they go back. Asap. School, sport, clubs etc. Before the whole generation is so traumatised. Vaccinate school staff. Kids wear masks. Back to normal please.

Traumatised hardly.

They already paused the use of lateral flow tests.

I really hope schools are back ASAP but I do think February is very optimistic. At best, it will probably be a few years in a similar way to June last year.

@herecomesthsun

They already paused the use of lateral flow tests.

Yes I thought that but this transcript seems to suggest it may go ahead anyway, perhaps in a different form. The MHRA won't authorise it to replace isolation but Harris sounded quite keen to use it on pupils...perhaps they will tweak it so it doesn't breach the MHRA licensing and use it to randomly sample in schools rather than to replace isolation? Not clear at the moment.

I dont have a problem using as well as isolation.
However they need to acknowledge that if one case is found its probably 3 etc

@flumposie

If nothing new is put in place for schools then we will simply find ourselves back where we are now.

We’re quite lucky that there is something new then aren’t we. Maybe a vaccine might help?

@covetingthepreciousthings

Aren't we hoping that by April everyone with a high chance of dying from covid will have been vaccinated?

But they'll most likely only have had one vaccination by then instead of both? I would think. Unless they start decreasing the 12 weeks.

I think the Pfizer stats are also being questioned after Israel released new data. It may not be as effective as first thought after the first dose. Could be as low as 30% ish I read? So if that's the case then reopening schools could be really bad for the vulnerable people in communities.

The Oxford one is supposed to be better with a longer gap between doses, however the most vulnerable group have mostly been given the Pfizer one.

Maybe a vaccine might help?. Ideally yes, @JabbyMcJabface but the plan to delay the second Pfizer dose could be the undoing of that plan (see my previous post about that)

I can’t see it being next month, but maybe staggered regionally from March/Easter.

With staff vaccinations, a completion of both the first 4 groups two jabs, and masks in classrooms, they may be onto a plan. I think the LF tests are a waste of time, but don’t object to staff using them twice weekly as long as they aren’t used to replace any sort of SI. Rotas would be the best bet to open up, but the government ballsed that up with their long lists of who can go to school now.

I would imagine the government is very cross about their daily contact LFD test plan not being approved as they will have to now be SEEN to be doing something else.

What they will probably do is spend money on making advertising campaigns saying schools are safe, rather than, you know, actually making schools any safer.

What they will probably do is spend money on making advertising campaigns saying schools are safe, rather than, you know, actually making schools any safer

Oooh, maybe Boris could do a photo opp going around a school and shaking hands with the teachers and kids....oh yeah...that didn't go so well when he did it at the hospital. He'd get his second dose of Covid!

I think staggered starts and rotas etc would be hard due to, as a pp said how many kids are in anyway. I think possibly rotas etc might work better at secondary as they have a lower percentage in.

@glitterfarts

I hope they go back. Asap. School, sport, clubs etc. Before the whole generation is so traumatised. Vaccinate school staff. Kids wear masks. Back to normal please.

@glitterfarts Yes to all of this.

Aren't we hoping that by April everyone with a high chance of dying from covid will have been vaccinated?

What about those with a moderate chance of being serious ill, needing hospitalisation but hopefully not dying. The 'clinically vulnerable' such as group 6.

Group,6 accounts for several teachers, as does the over 50s group.

I can't see them being done by April. I'm not expecting to be called that soon.

I'd imagine it will be much later before the priority groups have had one dose, let alone 2. I hope I'm wrong.

I would be happy with the use of lateral flow tests but only if accompanied by isolation of all close contacts.
They are not reliable enough to be used as a replacement for isolation.

Absolutely the kids need to go back to school ASAP, the damage done to the young is disgraceful