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.

@DBML

Look at the great time people are having around the world. We criticise the US a lot, but look at them!

No talk of variants; no lockdown; no closures; no hold on life.

Watching this has finished me off. I thought we were doing it right. I thought the whole world was in the same position...but we’re not!

What the fuck are we doing?

I think Florida's unusual even for the us with their approach tbh.

And even there the theme parks are running at very reduced numbers, with masks for everyone aged 2 and over.

And not all theme parks are open. The parks in California are closed and have never reopened since first lockdowns.

Some parts of the us have has closed schools since March. Some have restricted and phased returns with masks for all and a rota system.

There are definitely restrictions and lockdowns, just not a whole,country approach.

Which is a bit off topic, sorry.
I’d like schools to go back. I’m in anyway so it might as well be school as it should be rather than this weird halfway system we’re in. And my Dds also need to see someone who isn’t me, their Dad or their sister!

I suspect it will be phased - I have questions about how that might work. If only, say, Y6 and Reception go back at primary, and say, Year 11 and 13 at secondary, what happens to online work for the rest of the year groups? Might be easier at primary but teachers can’t do both online and live teaching at once. Our primary school is mixed year groups, so our Y6 teacher also does Y5. We’d have to work out how to do that. Unless we are given some flexibility.

Also in Florida schools - parents have the option to keep their children at home and can access remote learning instead.

@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.

This time last year we barely knew what Covid was, but now we’ve already had months of lockdown. The times aren’t comparable.

and it does help prevent a person from getting seriously ill and dying from covid, so on that front it's a definite success

So then we still have to stay locked up why again?

@babybythesea

Which is a bit off topic, sorry. I’d like schools to go back. I’m in anyway so it might as well be school as it should be rather than this weird halfway system we’re in. And my Dds also need to see someone who isn’t me, their Dad or their sister!

I suspect it will be phased - I have questions about how that might work. If only, say, Y6 and Reception go back at primary, and say, Year 11 and 13 at secondary, what happens to online work for the rest of the year groups? Might be easier at primary but teachers can’t do both online and live teaching at once. Our primary school is mixed year groups, so our Y6 teacher also does Y5. We’d have to work out how to do that. Unless we are given some flexibility.

Teachers could teach the same lessons as remote learning, as they do in many schools for kW and vulnerable children.

If not all children are in there are excess staff. They can be deployed across key stages and subjects wherever possible and support one another as a full school.

@Christmasfairy2020

Is the NHS under pressure? If not then why do we need to still not visit family and live life. Its stupid

The numbers in hospital have only just dropped below April peak. Hospitals are under pressure and if we scrap lockdown numbers will rise again.

All this 'locked up' talk. So dramatic. Nobody is locked up.

I’m not sure I can either @Mrgrinch

I’ve been trying very hard to maintain sensible views. Views held by my profession for good reason. I’ve seen the logic and tried to think of my pupils and colleagues.

But I’ve had a few really bad days and I think I’m becoming depressed. Never been depressed before in my life. Struggled to get out of bed today and feeling really resentful that I can’t travel more than a few fucking miles. Not even if I stay in the car and just want a change of scenery. The rules are fucking ridiculous.

I feel like I have cabin fever. My entire skin itches, not a true itch, just like an sense of physical agitation or a tic. I’m shouty and fed up. I don’t know what I want...other than I want my life back.

I think I’m done too.

@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.

I work in hospitality and am on the verge of bankruptcy. I still hope schools go back as soon as humanly possible more than anything else, as the effects on children of them being shut are so monstrous.

I’m expecting gradual opening rather than everything at once

So doesn’t sound too different to what you are saying op

We have an announcement here in Wales this Friday, that might give you a bit more idea of what Boris might announce next week - or perhaps not!

From Monday, nursery, reception, years 1 and 2 will start returning in our schools. I don’t know how that will work in practice. My dc are secondary age and desperate to get back - or at least be able to play outdoor sports so that they can see more than 1 other person outdoors at a time. This is really starting to take its toll on them.

Those of us who have stayed well and not had major bereavement are very lucky

Sadly I've had 3 family deaths, albeit not from covid, however restrictions have meant we'd not seen them - though dh was allowed an 'end of life' emergency visit for his dad and my mum was able to visit my nana briefly under similar circumstances - for months. Their funerals were restricted between 10 people in April to 25 in August, so we couldn't grieve fully as a whole fa,ill and they were dine with masks and social distancing.

I've also had covid during the last autumn term, I was in hospital and off work for 7 weeks. 4 months later I'm still suggesting post viral issues and my blood pressure, which I didn't have any issues with previously, is too high even with 2 different daily medications. It caused my arthritis to flare and that's only just settling following another steroid injection.

What with that plus some other stuff we've dealt with in the last year, it's been a really hard and stressful time tbh.

@Christmasfairy2020

My mum is 59 lives in Sheffield. No health issues. She had her text today to book for the vaccine

It's really varied in Sheffield.

In my area they're still finishing groups 1-4 and only,started sending out letters to group 5 today. I'm group 6 and they didn't think I'd have been called before schools are set to return in March 8.

My younger colleague who is also group 6 in a different part of the city and she had her vaccine yesterday.

I have American cousins. Schools are part-time where they are, 2 days in for 50% of the class then a day to clean and the other 50% in. They were off for far longer than us in wave 1. They are however allowed to go to Florida on holiday!

The big question is, what's happening in India? Massive drop in infection and hospitalizations, no one knows why!

@Sockbogies

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.

Round here, one Mum will go and pick up a child from another family for exercise so the kids can socialize legally. (I assume your child is pre-school aged) Then next time the other mum returns the favour.

That’s what we should do then. Open everything up, but run at around 35% capacity, with masks for anyone older than 2.
Florida is looking good! People are getting on with their lives! I know where I’d rather be.

Does anyone honestly expect anything else? It’s common sense: if schools open (which people seem to want) they’re going to have to compensate for that by continuing to abide by other restrictions until everyone in the first 9 groups are vaccinated, just two more months.
Seems pretty obvious to me 🤷‍♀️

@MaxNormal

and it does help prevent a person from getting seriously ill and dying from covid, so on that front it's a definite success

So then we still have to stay locked up why again?

Not enough people have had it yet, nor for long enough, plus most have only had one jab but need a second in 12 weeks time.

Whilst initial findings are starting to show positive effects if the vaccine it's still too early to see big drops just yet.

@TheBouquets

This is not going to be popular but I do not think opening schools especially for the very young age groups is the best plan. Children are naturally the most prolific spreaders of any sort of germ or virus. How many times have we seen half a school coming down with chickenpox or a D&V bug. Senior pupils and college pupils are more likely to understand to stay apart in classes but even then they forget as I have seen at school out times. It might be better to allow adults to mix a little while observing the 2 metre rule. Hopefully they would understand and accept the situation I am worried that if schoolsgo back especially the very young pupils we will be back in lockdown very soon

I think that the younger you are, the more ineffective remote learning is.

There's not enough space in secondaries for distancing and DFE are anti rotas which are used in other countries with great success. It's not possible to say to secondary schools kids that they don't need to social distance in school but have to while travelling to school and at weekends.

According to ons testing just out 40% of over 80s have antibodies to covid and ten % of over 70s. Not sure if all over 80s are three weeks out from vaccine yet but I think it’s going to take a little longer for effects of vaccines to be seen in enough of the vulnerable groups for the government to consider easing (m)any restrictions

DBML
Look at the great time people are having around the world. We criticise the US a lot, but look at them!

No talk of variants; no lockdown; no closures; no hold on life.

Watching this has finished me off. I thought we were doing it right. I thought the whole world was in the same position...but we’re not!

What the fuck are we doing?“

Anyone holding the USA up as a shining beacon of how to deal with Covid is deluded.

@DBML

I’m not sure I can either *@Mrgrinch*

I’ve been trying very hard to maintain sensible views. Views held by my profession for good reason. I’ve seen the logic and tried to think of my pupils and colleagues.

But I’ve had a few really bad days and I think I’m becoming depressed. Never been depressed before in my life. Struggled to get out of bed today and feeling really resentful that I can’t travel more than a few fucking miles. Not even if I stay in the car and just want a change of scenery. The rules are fucking ridiculous.

I feel like I have cabin fever. My entire skin itches, not a true itch, just like an sense of physical agitation or a tic. I’m shouty and fed up. I don’t know what I want...other than I want my life back.

I think I’m done too.

That's how I've felt today. A general feeling of restlessness. I'm desperate for a change of scenery and something to look forward to. I usually keep myself busy with walks, running and cycling. But I'm fed up doing those. I think everybody is. I feel as if I need a good cry or a good shout and screaming at the top of my lungs. Or maybe both.

Never mind clapping. Maybe we should have a day where we have a collective Shout on the Doorstep.

@DenisetheMenace

Really? Why?
I think they are doing very well now and in terms of data, haven’t we done worse?

I think people are quick to criticise the US, but many states will come out of this a lot sooner and with a better economy and less debt than us.

All this 'locked up' talk. So dramatic. Nobody is locked up

Don't be so dismissive. People have had, among other things, the right to work, travel and see loved ones taken away from them. We are living under enormous personal restrictions. So no it's not particularly dramatic, but lucky you if your personal experience doesn't feel very dramatic.