If they open up schools all at once, I'm done with every other precaution

[BettyBoomerang]

If the 'leak' is true and they are stupid enough to open up all schools to all kids at the same time (thus leading to uncontrolled transmission of variants and increased risk of vaccine escape, further lockdowns and a redo of the vaccination programme) then I'm done with any kind of compliance.

I'm not staying at home like a fucking stupid sitting duck, waiting for my kids to come home with Covid anymore. The kids can see their friends, have sleepovers and we'll go out and about and visit friends and relatives and do the maximum we can.

You can pile in and call me selfish or whatever - I genuinely don't care anymore. I'm not putting my life on hold just for the government to fuck the recovery up again. I'm the most compliant of pretty much everyone I know but this is it for me, and many others I suspect (most of whom are already doing way more than me). If it's safe for my kids to go to school, then everything is safe.

@HalfPastThree I am sure there are reports that show children especially those over 10 transmit the virus exactly the same as adults

I hope to see all the politicians sitting shoulder to shoulder in the Houses of Parliament, without masks on, to show solidarity to pupils and teachers on March 8th.

Why?
I honestly don't get this mindset.
You're worried enough to be upset about schools going back and mixing but on the other hand wanting people to be sat side by side maskless at work as well?
Therefore increasing transmission just to make a point all in the name of "solidarity?"

Honestly seeing the news and the leak tonight was really like a moment of clarity for me. I just feel it's enough now, for me. It's not a foot stamp, tantrum or any of the other things, it's actually a very calm feeling of clarity. They know that school families mix. They must do - they're not stupid. So that's factored in to what they now feel is safe. They can't say that in case people go totally crazy, but they must be quite confident that the daily mass gatherings that are schools, and the daily mass gatherings of parents, and the surrounding contact that will go on between those people are families, is all manageable for the country.

@Mockolate but if the politicians say schools are safe, which is all we will hear about in the next 2 weeks, why isn’t the Houses of Parliament?

@Mockolate

I hope to see all the politicians sitting shoulder to shoulder in the Houses of Parliament, without masks on, to show solidarity to pupils and teachers on March 8th.

Why?
I honestly don't get this mindset.
You're worried enough to be upset about schools going back and mixing but on the other hand wanting people to be sat side by side maskless at work as well?
Therefore increasing transmission just to make a point all in the name of "solidarity?"

It's because it's either safe or it's not.

And it's not 'at work' - we're not talking about filling call centres, we're asking our government to assemble.

A lot of that data was when schools were on holiday or only open to small numbers of pupils though.

The primary route of infection into households during the autumn was through school children according to SAGE in January.

It will be interesting to see what Kier Starmer says tomorrow as he was talking about schools reopening but with mitigating factors. I assume Boris is all about going back with no mitigation.

They know that school families mix. They must do - they're not stupid.

They know that a few do. Not all. I’ve got school age kids and nobody I know was breaking the rules while the kids were in school.

They know that a few do. Not all. I’ve got school age kids and nobody I know was breaking the rules while the kids were in school.

Same

@Pastanred

Whils group 6 may have some vulnerabilities the fact that 90% deaths ae groups 1-4 proves that people in group 6 are fa too paranoid about their actual risk

You may be more vulnerable to catching it but not dying or the figures would be massively different as group 6 is big

Its not about deaths though as everyone keeps telling us on these threads. It is about NHS capacity. So all the vulnerable in group 6 may not die, but they very well may fill up hospital beds again. When hospital beds fill up again what happens ? Yep we go back into lockdown.

@BettyBoomerang

Honestly seeing the news and the leak tonight was really like a moment of clarity for me. I just feel it's enough now, for me. It's not a foot stamp, tantrum or any of the other things, it's actually a very calm feeling of clarity. They know that school families mix. They must do - they're not stupid. So that's factored in to what they now feel is safe. They can't say that in case people go totally crazy, but they must be quite confident that the daily mass gatherings that are schools, and the daily mass gatherings of parents, and the surrounding contact that will go on between those people are families, is all manageable for the country.

..or they could just have got it wrong, as they have at many other stages of the pandemic.

@ineedaholidaynow

It will be interesting to see what Kier Starmer says tomorrow as he was talking about schools reopening but with mitigating factors. I assume Boris is all about going back with no mitigation.

I’d like to think Boris plans to include better mitigation. My expectations, however, are not high.

t's because it's either safe or it's not

What? Clearly the more you open up, the more the infection rate is going to rise. So opening up all schools but keeping other restrictions will make it rise less than if you just open up everything. Surely that's obvious?

@Octane I think it is more the message that the politicians give that schools are safe (when there is no social distancing or masks in classrooms) and then they show the politicians very spaced about about (with the majority WFH) and those in the Chamber with masks on. Very conflicting message.

If they said we know there is a risk of transmission in schools and they put mitigation in place, like rotas and masks for Secondary school it wouldn’t be so bad

I’ll join you op. I’m done with it.
I’m not going to carry on with this awful, awful lockdown, just to keep schools open for other people.
Cases will rise. Another lockdown (Easter holiday) is inevitable. I’ll enjoy whilst I can.

Yet infection rates fell through the November lockdown despite schools being open. Yes, bubbles closed as needed and some areas struggled with regular disruption, but more schools did not face significant or any disruption at all.

The highest risk children to bring infection in are already in from their key worker parents.

The younger the child, the less likely thay are to spread the infection. Awkward in secondaries as it's near universally accepted that the oldest GCSE/ A-level years need to return. But the lower risk year groups have less maturity for remote learning and have already missed signifact time in school (particularly KS2 & KS3)

It's also the start of spring. Cases are tumbling rapidly partly because it's the end of the respiritiry illness season and also the success of the vaccination programme. By a third of the population being vaccinated plus natural immunity after the winter peak, cases won't bounce up like they did in December. Lower cases in the community means lower cases in schools as schools reflect what is happening in the community.

The need to give all children access into school to stop the social and educational damage is great (plus for a significant minority the far worse harms such as abuse).

Follow rules, break rules, it's your life. But it is daft to break rules as a protest to make a point about "safety" when you're concerned that schools will increase the rates. If parents socialise indoors (especially without care for distancing or ventilation)then it makes it more likely for parent to parent transmission to introduce the virus into school which is self-defeating.

@Octane

t's because it's either safe or it's not

What? Clearly the more you open up, the more the infection rate is going to rise. So opening up all schools but keeping other restrictions will make it rise less than if you just open up everything. Surely that's obvious?

Obvious but ignored my many. It’s not difficult to understand surely

Opening up one thing (schools) maes it more important, not less, to carry on with the other things and read gradually

Those saying “if one is ok then they must all be, so I’m going to do what I want” are idiots

Obvious but ignored my many. It’s not difficult to understand surely

I'm genuinely baffled as to why it's hard to grasp.

What? Clearly the more you open up, the more the infection rate is going to rise. So opening up all schools but keeping other restrictions will make it rise less than if you just open up everything.

Exactly

Surely that's obvious?
Yes, it is, think people are not getting the point on purpose or something!

Obvious but ignored my many. It’s not difficult to understand surely

Just seen this, and yep!!

Must sleep, sorry!

Some interesting points of view and some nice Mumsnetters.

Ultimately, I guess we'll see what transpires. If the announcement tomorrow is about slow, caution, phased and mitigation in how my family returns to gatherings, then I'll follow suit. If it's 'Big Bang' and 'Schools are Safe, everybody in' then I'll take my cue. But what I absolutely 100% will not do, is sit home and be stupidly careful and cautious while my family mix with hundreds, and wait to see if they catch Covid and bring it home.

I know full well that in my town, if schools are in, lockdown is over, so I'll be in good company, which will make a bloody lovely refreshing change tbh! Either way it will end how it'll end so it's time to start enjoying the ride again.

Plus how do you go from being scared enough to wipe down groceries to this other extreme. If you would rather you have your dc at home that's fine but just own it.

@gigity

Plus how do you go from being scared enough to wipe down groceries to this other extreme. If you would rather you have your dc at home that's fine but just own it.

I'm not scared at all by the way. I'm youngish and healthy. I just did everything I could to avoid catching or spreading it, to do my bit. And now I'm done.

I don't mind if the DC are home, they're nice kids. Some want to be back in school and others aren't fussed but they're all fine. This isn't really about them tbh.

This isn't really about them tbh.

So it's about you & not being able to socialise??

@Mockolate

What? Clearly the more you open up, the more the infection rate is going to rise. So opening up all schools but keeping other restrictions will make it rise less than if you just open up everything.

Exactly

Surely that's obvious?
Yes, it is, think people are not getting the point on purpose or something!

Well luckily for you I can't force them to open up society. But I can say that enough is enough. My household cannot be simultaneously safe to mix with hundreds and unsafe to mix with a few of the same group, or drive 10 miles to go for a walk, or have the same kids running around the garden or sit down on a walk and eat a sandwich, or hug my sister, whose kids are also at school. I don't believe it anymore. I don't believe that ANY of the things I could potentially do will have any significant effect on the transmission compared to schools. I just categorically don't.