Can we unlock the schools at start of Feb?

[MeandT]

I'm totally supportive of the lockdown BUT by the end of next week, case numbers nationally will be the same as they were at end of November. Hospital admissions are falling again.

Rather than going back into tiers with the shops and food pubs open (where all the spreading happened in December), can we not issue all the teachers with N95 masks (and vaccines for the clinically vulnerable), make all the kids wear triple layer face masks all the time, and just get on with the important job of educating this country's kids in person? Starting again 1st of Feb.

AIBU to ask if we can send the kids back as soon as we hit the case rate we unlocked at on 2nd December?

IABU= no way, the cases will shoot up too quickly again, even if they all wear masks all day.

IANBU = yes, get them back before half term, the only reason it went nuts in December was because everyone was out Christmas shopping and seeing family.

[Feenie]

So you want your seven year old back immediately with no mask and no ventilation.

There are no words for that kind of stupid.

[ZoBo123]

The statistic quoted earlier about children being the most likely source of infection for the household is this compared to adults who are working outside of the home or working from home/not working at all? If it is both than surely they are more likely as the only ones who are leaving everyday? A better comparison would be between equivalent adults who work outside the home. The statistic that children are less likely to catch it at home suggests that they don't catch it more than adults as they don't live in households where all members are under 18

[Letseatgrandma]

@Feenie

So you want your seven year old back immediately with no mask and no ventilation.

There are no words for that kind of stupid.

I can think of a few words.

Them 4 Themselves!

[Ladydowntheroad]

I suggest you go on the BBC website and watch a few of the videos from inside the UK’s Hospitals THIS WEEK. The ones with nurses who are crying and having breakdowns, that sort of thing. If you still come back after that and think we should send them back then it’s for no ones benefit but your own.

[WanderingMilly]

It would be worse than stupid to open up schools by February. All the hardship we have gone through already would be wasted as rates of infection would go up again......why do some people never learn???

Children are huge spreaders of infection and will take infection back to their families, even if not so badly affected (or even asymptomatic) themselves. With the new variant, which is incredibly infectious, it isn't worth risking....the virus won't somehow recognise the difference between an adult and a child and not be infectious in the child, will it?

Schools need to stay closed so that we can get a proper control of things this time, and get the vaccine rolled out....

[Ladydowntheroad]

And FWIW my DD (4) brought covid back from school and gave it to me and her sister within 6 days so anyone who’s saying they don’t spread it that utter BS.

[BustopherPonsonbyJones]

The push on Mumnset is to open the schools first. In the wider world (where people have older or grown up children or no children and don’t work in education), I am hearing more and more voices saying schools should stay closed to allow other businesses to open. These are people who work as beauticians, hairdressers, actors and restaurant owners. They were very frustrated that they had to close (or stay closed) in November whilst schools remained open. They feel even more strongly now. Their feeling is they should have their chance to see what impact their businesses have on infection rates and work from there. I think they will make their feelings known this time.

[MarshaBradyo]

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

The push on Mumnset is to open the schools first. In the wider world (where people have older or grown up children or no children and don’t work in education), I am hearing more and more voices saying schools should stay closed to allow other businesses to open. These are people who work as beauticians, hairdressers, actors and restaurant owners. They were very frustrated that they had to close (or stay closed) in November whilst schools remained open. They feel even more strongly now. Their feeling is they should have their chance to see what impact their businesses have on infection rates and work from there. I think they will make their feelings known this time.

Hopefully government won’t cave and will hold schools as priority.

[MarshaBradyo]

Especially after last summer after outcry over pubs etc

[noblegiraffe]

Zobo I can see what you’re trying to do but the thing is that schools opened with no mitigation measures on the premise that it was safe to do so. That children didn’t catch covid as often and if they did, they didn’t transmit it as readily.

That data from SAGE shows that was not true.

[Mrgrinch]

make all the kids wear triple layer face masks all the time

I'd like to see you go into a high school and try and do this.

[Flinstones]

Schools need to open ASAP will people stop saying keep them shut!! If your scared keep your kids out. Our children need there schools. There are other issues in the world other than COVID

[SansaSnark]

[quote Greenygrape]@noblegiraffe interesting stats. I wonder why they're more likely to catch it outside home than from an adult that has it in their home. I know that social distancing in schools is difficult but more distanced than with parents surely?[/quote]
I don't know? How many teens sit dead next to their parents without moving for an hour (or possibly longer if they sit together in multiple lessons)? And then they can be in close physical contact at break/lunch/walking home? Plus sometimes sharing drinks and food, too.

I think it's entirely possible in a decent sized family home that actually a teen would be more distanced from their parents! Especially the sort of teen that spends most of their time in their bedroom!

Also, it might be a bit of a numbers game- you might end up in contact with more cases in school, compared to just one parent in the home.

[Ladydowntheroad]

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

The push on Mumnset is to open the schools first. In the wider world (where people have older or grown up children or no children and don’t work in education), I am hearing more and more voices saying schools should stay closed to allow other businesses to open. These are people who work as beauticians, hairdressers, actors and restaurant owners. They were very frustrated that they had to close (or stay closed) in November whilst schools remained open. They feel even more strongly now. Their feeling is they should have their chance to see what impact their businesses have on infection rates and work from there. I think they will make their feelings known this time.

This is so true

[LickEmbysmiling]

I would much rather push on through and try and surpress this bastard and drive it right down.
Get as many people vaccinated as we can in 24 hour stations, esp teachers and front line school staff, dinner ladies etc (and men) and gradually head back after Easter...

And next winter be prepared for more on line learning at various points.

[MarshaBradyo]

Lady how long do you want schools closed for?

As they are now that is

[Staffdontblowitnow]

@Flinstones

Schools need to open ASAP will people stop saying keep them shut!! If your scared keep your kids out. Our children need there schools. There are other issues in the world other than COVID

need their

[CallmeAngelina]

@ImBoredAgain

They need to go back their education has suffered enough. However there’s no way my 7 year old is being forced to wear a mask all day or sit in a cold room with windows open.

So how are you suggesting they return? Under what conditions?

[Ladydowntheroad]

@Flinstones

Schools need to open ASAP will people stop saying keep them shut!! If your scared keep your kids out. Our children need there schools. There are other issues in the world other than COVID

Want to go into any ICU in the country and tell a doctor that to their face? Didn’t think so. I’m sorry you can’t cope with your kids.

[LickEmbysmiling]

My teen spends most time in her bedroom. I don't like it but at this moment in time it's actually quite good!

[Ladydowntheroad]

@MarshaBradyo

Lady how long do you want schools closed for?

As they are now that is

For as long as it takes.

[MarshaBradyo]

For as long as it takes.

Meaning you’d be happy with what? September? Do you work in a school

[VladimirCutiePutiPie]

I don’t care what your codes are for whether you are being unreasonable or whatever else but at my school two members have staff have died. God forbid anyone has to work from home.

[2018SoFarSoGreat]

I'm in California and our schools have been closed since last March. All but a very few private (I think exclusively, maybe a few non-private) schools back with restrictions and submitted safety plans.

It does not look like they'll go back this school year either. Terribly sad, but look at our numbers - 400,000+ without schools being in. What would it look like if our (California being enormous) schools were in session? Unbearable to consider.

[WaitingOnTheDaffodils]

@Flinstones

Schools need to open ASAP will people stop saying keep them shut!! If your scared keep your kids out. Our children need there schools. There are other issues in the world other than COVID

And what about the high risk staff? 🙄. Yes I agree, schools do need to re-open - SAFELY! Are you perhaps a member of Us For Them?