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Original poster

Outbreaks in schools

519 replies

Trustisamust · 18/03/2021 04:15

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.

OP posts:
macaronirabbit · 18/03/2021 10:10

@ItsalonghaulBut from what I understand, if an LFD test comes back positive then that individual already has Covid? So the spread may well have already started?
I dont understand your point - surely this is the case with all covid tests not just the LF ones? If you have a positive test you already have covid.
As far as I know there arent any that predict you will get covid and this must isolate?

LindaEllen · 18/03/2021 10:12

[quote Trustisamust]@Itsalonghaul But from what I understand, if an LFD test comes back positive then that individual already has Covid? So the spread may well have already started?[/quote]
Of course. But it stops them infecting more people.

DavidsSchitt · 18/03/2021 10:13

"What that poster was suggesting was by the time the LFD comes back positive the individual already has Covid. A bit like by the time you've taken a pregnancy test you are (usually) pregnant."

Well yes, and? What's your point? 😂

Fortherosesjoni70 · 18/03/2021 10:16

[quote macaronirabbit]**@ItsalonghaulBut from what I understand, if an LFD test comes back positive then that individual already has Covid? So the spread may well have already started?
I dont understand your point - surely this is the case with all covid tests not just the LF ones? If you have a positive test you already have covid.
As far as I know there arent any that predict you will get covid and this must isolate?[/quote]
Maybe not.
With LFT tests you need a certain amount of viral load to enable it to test positive. So you could be harbouring the virus for longer.

WaitingForNormality · 18/03/2021 10:17

2 year groups in DH's school (primary) are home isolating this week - 3 kids have tested positive (not LFT as not used in primary kids) and DH, plus 2 TAs are now positive too (confirmed by PCRs, all symptomatic).

At DC's school (another primary) we have a year group isolating already too. Plus it also impacts after-school-club as the positive child attended there too.

Fortherosesjoni70 · 18/03/2021 10:17

It would make sense in that time, you could be spreading it to many.

windymillertheecowarrior · 18/03/2021 10:24

There will be the fortnight over Easter where schools are shut which will reduce infections I would expect.

macaronirabbit · 18/03/2021 10:25

Ok so is it that the LFT are not as sensitive as the others?
Btw to @WaitingForNormality
Our primary school is encouraging pupils and parents to test twice a week with LF tests. I collected 2 packs of tests from a local testing centre last week although DD gets hers from (secondary) school.

sherrystrull · 18/03/2021 10:44

I dont understand why people seem so against vaccines for school staff.

Vaccinating school staff would protect them, their families, their children, theor classes and the families of the children. I don't understand why anyone would be against this.

From a personal note, i go into school each day scared of the responsibility of preventing spread amongst the staff, children and families. It is constantly wearing and upsetting. Having 30 children that you care greatly about to keep safe, knowing spread can happen whilst simultaneously having no money for extra reaources, no space for social distancing and no time for extra cleaning.

Every day the responsibility weighs a little heavier. Vaccinating school staff would be an easy way of helping this stress. I try not to let it show in my teaching but spending all day pretending everything is fine whilst trying to keep social distancing as much as possible, sanitise hands etc is hard.

VooveyClickwot · 18/03/2021 10:48

Over 2,000 pupils and staff in DS secondary (which given school capacity suggests very few didn't consent) have been tested three times already and not one positive.

Other two secondaries in my town and the local college are the same.

It's not our DC who are spreading Covid IMO.

Original poster
Trustisamust · 18/03/2021 10:52

@sherrystrull I don't understand it either. Perhaps somebody could explain? IMO it's not right at all.

OP posts:
WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 18/03/2021 10:54

@Itsalonghaul

Our infection rates are plummeting I am personally not worried at all. We close again for weeks on Friday for Easter, this is a non issue.
You might close on Friday many many more do not

Rates are no longer plummeting.

Hart & many others, have already started increasing.

Just as they predicted.

Opening schools fully is not without risk. The greatest risk factor though is parents deciding now schools are (fully) back they can socialise. If the parents were not breaking the rules, the numbers wouldn't climb so quickly.

BungleandGeorge · 18/03/2021 10:57

All teachers with medical vulnerabilities and/or over 50 should have been offered vaccination because as a country we are doing those most vulnerable to death and severe disease first.
One positive LFT at our school so far.
Many schools will still isolate the entire year group for one positive case.

Dustyboots · 18/03/2021 11:00

How do people know there’s no cases in their schools.

I have no idea if kids have tested positive in either of ours ... the schools don’t tell us.

BungleandGeorge · 18/03/2021 11:01

Some areas are now rising, not sure about elsewhere but round here it’s the areas which have had high levels and considerable problems with covid throughout this wave. There are obvious problems with mixing/work conditions/living conditions/ lack of vaccine take up in those areas. I agree it’s a bit worrying to open up further in specific areas because they’ve obviously not got on top of the problems.

BungleandGeorge · 18/03/2021 11:02

@Dustyboots

How do people know there’s no cases in their schools.

I have no idea if kids have tested positive in either of ours ... the schools don’t tell us.

From the school. And if they isolate large numbers it’s obvious to the kids!
MarshaBradyo · 18/03/2021 11:03

@Dustyboots

How do people know there’s no cases in their schools.

I have no idea if kids have tested positive in either of ours ... the schools don’t tell us.

We always get an email, even if it’s zero like last week
Original poster
Trustisamust · 18/03/2021 11:05

@Dustyboots I agree with you. And also, I'd be surprised in a lot of instances where people have said there were also "no cases" before testing if that was indeed the situation. Especially considering the prevalence of Covid in earlier weeks and months.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trustisamust · 18/03/2021 11:06

@BungleandGeorge But a lot of kids being off doesn't tell the parent/carer the number of positives.

OP posts:
manicinsomniac · 18/03/2021 11:13

I think the pregnancy tests analogy might be a misquote. I remember someone saying on a thread a while ago that taking that the LFT programme was like using a condom when already pregnant, not taking a pregnancy test. But there might have been two threads and two analogies.

No cases at either my school or the school where my eldest two are. Not just this term - ever, afaik. I'd obviously know about the school I work in. I don't know how the school my children go to would choose to report but I'm pretty confident I'd know, even if only the parents of the year group affected were officially informed. Surely the child just comes home from school and says, 'guess what? Year 10 got sent home today'? Mine would!

At my school if there is a positive we won’t be sending year groups home in the day. They will be alerted after school. This is on the understanding those pupils who have tested positive have already been in school so are already infecting others

This doesn't seem right. They just get the whole day to spread it around more then. Think most schools are sending them home straightaway (keeping in the classroom and asking parents to collect asap for Primary).

BungleandGeorge · 18/03/2021 11:17

[quote Trustisamust]@BungleandGeorge But a lot of kids being off doesn't tell the parent/carer the number of positives.[/quote]
Since the tests are being done in school and all contacts have to stay off, no kids being off does tell you a lot. In any case school notifies us.
Community covid numbers vary hugely, as do individual schools mitigation methods. If nobody has been off with covid symptoms the likelihood of high numbers having had it is negligible.
If you’re in an area of high prevalence I understand your concern, I’m not and am happy with current measures of mask wearing, ventilation and LFTs. There doesn’t appear to be a problem at the moment

2boysand1princess · 18/03/2021 11:25

My sister works in a large secondary school. She tested positive with zero symptoms. She still is shocked she has it as she’s totally well. Anyway, 3 other colleagues in her department have also tested positive now. This was 2 days ago.
Today she looked at the schools notice board, 10 further staff throughout school have tested positive with mild or no symptoms. And many students sent home throughout this week.
Tbh, we are in a highish rate area though. I reckon by next week will be many more cases. Concerning when you think so many have no typical covid symptoms and the only way they know they have covid is the lateral flow tests. Pleased the government have launched this testing in schools, shame wasn’t sooner.

LindainLockdown · 18/03/2021 11:29

@Dustyboots

How do people know there’s no cases in their schools.

I have no idea if kids have tested positive in either of ours ... the schools don’t tell us.

Our school tells us if there are any positive cases, why all schools cant do this is beyond me. I do appreciate my kid's STATE school even more from hearing how badly some schools organise things.

Thankfully no cases so far.

2boysand1princess · 18/03/2021 11:30

Also, just wanted to add. I also had covid with zero symptoms. My brother and husband too. It’s a shame that more students and their parents are not consenting to the lateral flow tests as in my DC schools they aren’t and neither are they at my sister’s secondary school where she works.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 18/03/2021 11:35

[quote Trustisamust]@sherrystrull I don't understand it either. Perhaps somebody could explain? IMO it's not right at all.[/quote]
I fully supported teachers being vaccinated in the Half term,

But having read the JCVI I can understand why they have chosen to continue according to the age groups - it does actually make sense.

It shouldn't have taken long to get ALL adults (that consent) vaccinated - hopefully the EU's pissing about won't impact that too much

The thing with schools is the children & parents socialising outside of school, outside of the guidelines. 'Because if they're at school - why not' and before you know it were back in the crap

I don't think vaccinate teachers would make much of a difference to the transmission, same with police, bus drivers etc and I do trust the JCVI to be making the best decisions on risk & prevention - but on an individual level I can certainly understand people feeling very vulnerable and wanting to be a priority for vaccinations due to their occupations.