Outbreaks in schools

[Trustisamust]

Since schools have returned there have already been major outbreaks in both my child's secondary and the primary I work at.
The majority of school staff remain unvaccinated.
For how many other schools is this already the case?
I just don't know what to think any more.

@MiddlesexGirl The data was awful from Sept - Nov. We were in the top 3 risk occupations. The other 2 being NHS and care workers.

The data from March - Nov was artificially suppressed by schools being closed mostly from March - Sept.
School teachers are also a lot of white women aged 20-40. The rates of serious illness/deaths in school staff over 60 is awful.

Many of the other occupational sectors were also closed or restricted during this period. Eg. public transport, restaurants

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2026670 is a Swedish study where schools were open.

My daughter has to self isolate for 3rd time. Never tested positive directly. She showed me some recorded footage from her friend taken secretly in school. Although most are wearing masks they are all squashed together in the corridor. The doors to get into the spots hub where they go if it is raining were not open leading to a mass congregation. I know it is difficult for schools but I think they need to have a rethink. I know that being in school is better for their MH but periods of self isolation over holidays (my daughter will have to self isolate into Easter and was the same at Oct half term) is just as bad. Half her yr is isolating but no always full classes as they are still split for some subjects Inc PE.

www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/infectionsanddeathsinteacherscomparedtootheroccupations

The ONS don’t agree that teachers were significantly affected from September to October but I’m not unsure whether there is data after that.
There’s not really any point in arguing about vaccinations though, whatever our own opinion JCVI decided on an approach based on risk of hospitalisation and death. As long as vaccines are available it is much quicker to go by age alone. Each group opens up well before the previous ones are finished so those who are really keen and will travel are able to book earlier. If supply problems continue then potentially it may need reviewing

Although you can accuse me of being a tinfoil-hatter, I don’t trust the government’s statistics as they were so determined to get schools open again. I’ll base my risk assessment on my lived experience and keep my distance from the children, open windows as wide as I can and hope every family plays it fair. So much thought put into keeping schools safe! Thanks, Boris.

your classrooms are not social distancing, mask wearing etc but they weren't before Christmas and that's where the stats are coming from

You might want to check this against numbers of isolations at the time. Ours and four other primaries in surrounding villages all had 2-5 classes out of 7 isolating for two or more weeks before Christmas. The Kent variant hit us hard (ironically, we are located on the Kent border....)

My own class were out for four weeks in that term due to two separate outbreaks. PHE advised that it was due to lack of ventilation and ‘strongly advised’ is to rectify it. Fab....except my room is in a converted roof space and only have one Velux window. How they expect us to address that is beyond me.

@Timeturnerplease

your classrooms are not social distancing, mask wearing etc but they weren't before Christmas and that's where the stats are coming from

You might want to check this against numbers of isolations at the time. Ours and four other primaries in surrounding villages all had 2-5 classes out of 7 isolating for two or more weeks before Christmas. The Kent variant hit us hard (ironically, we are located on the Kent border....)

My own class were out for four weeks in that term due to two separate outbreaks. PHE advised that it was due to lack of ventilation and ‘strongly advised’ is to rectify it. Fab....except my room is in a converted roof space and only have one Velux window. How they expect us to address that is beyond me.

Personally I think this is the issue. Where is the analysis of those schools who have had outbreaks. It’s crucial. It’s masked in country wide figures. Some places had low covid numbers until into December or January. Some schools have good ventilation and modern buildings, some schools have low pupil numbers. I feel sure there would be patterns. The problem of course is that they would then have to rectify the deficits

@sherrystrull

Police and prison officers should absolutely be prioritised.

Why would it slow it down? Tell them they can book and they will.

It would slow it down because people lie as they did with health and social care workers - a not insignificant number lied and then when they were turned away it left slots potentially unused.

Based on age people cannot lie - we are vaccinating at absolute capacity with pretty much 100% attendance.

Teachers at my children’s secondary wear masks all the time as do the children. Teachers also have Perspex screens around their desks. When I’m at work (in secondary school) we wear masks all the time. TBH what with work and volunteering at vaccination centre I wear a mask most of the time - it’s hot, makes it harder to breath and speak but it just is what it is.

More schools impacted in my area

lichfieldlive.co.uk/2021/03/22/headteacher-says-lichfield-primary-school-has-been-hit-quite-hard-as-15-pupils-test-positive-for-coronavirus/

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/significant-rise-positive-covid-cases-20231804

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/smiths-wood-primary-academy-closes-20229265

We have 30 adults and 4 year groups isolating with 17 children testing positive.

Another nearby school is closed as well as us. It’s not even local paper.

Do you have high community covid levels?

16 cases in our local primary & 9 classes out of 18 isolating. Feels worse than ever tbh but not really public knowledge. Our NHS local site not reporting daily anymore only weekly so def sweeping this under the carpet. Feels depressing.

yr8 Dc came home early from school today due to +LFT by "a close contact"
"To whoever has covid, thank you!" shouted one of his classmates in the corridors.

+attitude

I thought they had all finished in school testing and brought the LFTs home to do on Wednesday and Sundays?

One of mine finished last week, the other had his final test today. Schools wrapped it up either last week or this week.

@BungleandGeorge

I thought they had all finished in school testing and brought the LFTs home to do on Wednesday and Sundays?

It depends on the school - our school gave every pupil 2 tests before schools reopened and then the 3rd test in the first week back - my children have done 3 tests at home since with the 4th being due Wednesday.

Ours did 3 in school and didn’t start until after the official back to school date. First home one at the weekend, so I’m surprised ant schools are still doing any in school, they must have started after the first week of term?