Next week's announcement won't be the good news we think it'll be

[likeamillpond]

Listening to the news and reading between the lines regarding the latest variant that's supposed to be resistant to the vaccine, I don't think it's going to be brilliant news next week.
I dont think it'll be a case of, We've got this. You can all go out now.
Im hoping theyll say for certain that schools can go back. At least.
I think we are still in the shit. They just haven't told us.
I'm prepared to be told I'm worrying over nothing.

@Beaniecats I have about as low an opinion of this government as you could imagine, but to suggest that they are using the new variants to artificially create a climate of fear - to control us - is arrant nonsense.

The one thing that gives me a frisson of grim satisfaction in this protracted shitshow is that Boris Johnson hates this even more than I do. He's a libertarian at heart and loathes government, let alone things like forking out for furlough and extending school meals to the holidays. It must be like fingernails on a blackboard for him. The lazy blustering shit trumpet must wake up every morning in a state of bitter regret that he ever went for the job - he wanted the title, not the work, and he isn't even getting what his overprivileged milk-fed arse considers a decent wage for it. Gutted.

@Macaroni46 Exactly. I am so disillusioned with the all the ‘back to school’ threads, as if teachers are a role and not a person with families of their own.

@Staffy1

I thought it was already decided that all children are going back to school on March 8th?

Johnson announced schools would go back no earlier than 8th March.

@ComtesseDeSpair

I think the moment they announce school are reopening, then unless they also have a clear and timely plan for reopening everything else then it’ll be a floodgate for people socialising in each other’s homes regardless of whether it’s “allowed.” I have no intention of spending further months locked away indoors if it’s apparently safe enough for hundred of different families to intermingle every day through education settings, and don’t know anyone else who would.

I understand the frustration but please, don't do this, this thinking is all wrong.

If everyone does this, schools will potentially shut again

I’m expecting schools open and possibly the rule of 6 back. Hopefully they’ve abandoned tiers.

Surely they’ve learnt some lessons this time round.

boris loves doing what he wants so if hes finally listening to the sciencie that can only be a good thing

as foronly the elderly getting a vaccination my friend age 50 is getting one next week and someone else the same age i know got one last week

The lazy blustering shit trumpet must wake up every morning in a state of bitter regret that he ever went for the job - he wanted the title, not the work, and he isn't even getting what his overprivileged milk-fed arse considers a decent wage for it

Steady on Keir!

@GabsAlot

boris loves doing what he wants so if hes finally listening to the sciencie that can only be a good thing

as foronly the elderly getting a vaccination my friend age 50 is getting one next week and someone else the same age i know got one last week

Well my mum who is in a nursing home hasn’t had a vaccine and as I’m mid 40s and a teacher this doesn’t bring me much hope. It’s been 11 months since I’ve seen it takes to her. I just want to say ‘I love you’.

*or talked to

Is this another one of those Covid bingo threads?

The basically go like this:

‘Don’t get your hopes up about anything, ever, because I’ve been reading between the lines/am party to special information and you are all going to get a nasty shock if you think things will change. Best if you all adjust your expectations to avoid disappointment, I’m afraid.’

It will be gradual, schools first. If that goes well non essential shops early April, end of April hair & beauty. Pubs & restaurants after the last May bank holiday.

@motherrunner Exactly that! If we dare to say we're a bit unsure about returning to full on classroom teaching we get called work shy (as it happens I've been supervising key worker bubbles most of the time anyway) but meanwhile lots of my friends and relatives are safely tucked away at home, retired or working from home, saying how they're not coming out or taking any risks on the one hand yet declaring loudly on the other 'schools must go back'! And if I hear again that a) children don't catch it and b) even if they do, they don't spread it, I might just explode ...!!
Just some recognition that we're putting ourselves at risk would be nice.

@ilikegrapes21

I think people need to get used to the idea that while lockdown will hopefully be eased over the next few months, we are not going 'back to normal' for a very long time. Some businesses will be allowed to open over the summer but they will have to be 'covid secure' and with social distancing in place.

Sounds like schools are opening much sooner and, if it's done just like last time, WITHOUT masks, social distancing or being Covid-secure. An airborne virus won't be contained from making children just wash their hands on arrival and nothing more.

This is a concern for increased transmission, and mutations of the virus at a time when only a small fraction of the population have received (and waited long enough to gain protection from) both doses of vaccine.

Boris said clearly last night in the briefing, that all media reports about restrictions being lifted should be taken with a pinch of salt. Bearing this in mind, and what Sturgeon is doing in Scotland, I think that some primary years might go back on the 8th - but the rest and Secondary will be a couple of weeks later, and phased return. Could be after Easter if before schools are back to normal.
The press has given the impression that all schools are back on the 8th, but this is false, as Boris said wait until next week and ignore the media.

I don't think the rule of 6 outside will be back at the same time children return to school. As for being able to meet one person outside as a relaxation, this only means you won't need to keep moving and won't be fined for sitting on a bench surely?

I was under the impression it was to tell us in what order and what restriction will be eased.
Giving us the criteria we need to met to action the easing .

@wonderstuff

As for socialising the Twitter leak I read was we will be able to meet 1 person outside.

We can do that already for a walk.

I hope like all of us for some long overdue good pandemic news but suddenly Nigerian variant pops up in the main stream media today! Is that code for all "as you are" despite the best efforts of the truly world beating British mass vaccination program? Do the current vaccines not work (as well) with Nigerian or any other circulating but as yet not sequences mutating variants?

I understand some parts provincial UK is opening up certain sectors slightly again soon eg some more Scottish schools fully reopening while others throughout the UK remains partially open for vulnerable children etc.

Let's hope it's a sustainable long term reopening of society and no more perpetual open and close lockdown cycles with more excess fatalities and livelihoods lost.

People who say "moving the goalposts"
Honestly there is no logic to that sentiment.
Of course the "goalposts are moving"
We would be in a lot more trouble if they weren't.

It is a novel virus. They don't have physic abilities.
They'll move the goalposts as needed.

I'd like to be able to meet with more than one person outside so my child can actually socialise with another child. Currently all socialising is done via phone, meaning less exercise and fresh air (I do drag her out every day, but it is dragging - she's fed up socialising with adults and needs a child to interact with). I'm not expecting any change though as politicians seem totally oblivious to this.

@motherrunner

@CountessFrog

Is this another one of those Covid bingo threads?

The basically go like this:

‘Don’t get your hopes up about anything, ever, because I’ve been reading between the lines/am party to special information and you are all going to get a nasty shock if you think things will change. Best if you all adjust your expectations to avoid disappointment, I’m afraid.’

And don't forget the variants! It's all about this week's variant!

@B33Fr33

Why would schools go back? Students didn't go back until September last year, nothing is any different yet. The vaccine is only for the elderly and those who work with them.

How old are you?

You must be pretty young to think that the vaccine is only for the elderly, what age do you class as elderly and why do you think it's only for those who work with them?

Scotland are sending nursery and P1-3 back on Monday.

@motherrunner

Yup makes me so happy that I’ll be back teaching 150 pupils face to face yet I haven’t seen my mum who is in a nursing home since March 2020.

Exactly.

And numbers of school staff are in group 6 to 9 so won't be vaccinated.

Fingers crossed I've done immunity from catching and being in hospital with Covid during the last full return in the autumn term, eh?

Otherwise it's a case of hoping for the best as my gp surgery is unlikely to have reached group 6 by March 8. But sure my body, not my mental health, can deal with going through that again.