Countries that have implemented ventilation systems in schools

[beentoldcomputersaysno]

If you live in a country where they have implemented ventilation systems in schools as a covid mitigation risk, has it made much of a difference? I'm in UK, where schools are massively impacted by covid. Masks were worn in secondary for a while, but have since been stopped, masks not worn in primary. Classes are about 30.

I’m interested in the responses. I’m a Secondary teacher and will in the unique position come Sept (like all other teachers) of being the only profession working with a wholly unvaccinated population. I want to try and sod everything possible to keep myself and others around me safe.

Not really answering your question but here in France schools from primary up have been fully masked since last September - and everyone wears one, no exemptions. It’s a small sample but neither of my children (one primary, one secondary) have missed a day due to COVID, and we live in a big city. The oldest was on Demi jauge (half days in, half day online) for a few weeks but there haven’t been any class closures etc. I honestly think masks have made a huge difference and I can’t understand why the U.K. had such a problem with them.

We’ve started vaccination for 12-17 yr olds, and the govt is encouraging parents to get on with it so that children return to school vaccinated.

Thanks.

I don't understand either when compared to the alternative.

I think it may be too early to say OP. And surprise surprise, the countries installing better ventilation systems are generally those who have been much more efficient with mask wearing in schools and vaccinating children. It's almost as if some countries/states are taking transmission in schools seriously and go the full Monty, or they do very little.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gta-school-ventilation-update-1.6071032

toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-schools-to-get-656m-to-cover-ventilation-upgrades-and-other-covid-19-costs-1.5387028

It seems such a logical thing to do and despite the cost, if it works will have both health and economic benefits.

Interesting. I'd love to know how and why the ventilation message got lost here.

I don't think it got lost. There just doesn't seem to be the government appetite for it which seems nuts.

I’ve read that New York has installed ventilation in all classrooms, and all classrooms can be checked as to their rate of ventilation on the city website.

I wish they would do that in the UK, I can't understand why they won't. Improving ventilation in schools would help stop the spread and impact on the community spread too. Children have missed so much school and the government aren't bothered. I'm fed up with the anti-mask narrative too, I don't like them but if they stop the spread I would rather wear them.

I'm also in France and the school Covid protocol states how often classrooms have to be aired (I think it's 15 minutes of wide open windows every 2 hours but not completely sure.) There's very little money around for improvements to school buildings, so I doubt many ventilation systems have been installed but it's definitely been officially on the radar for a long time.

Also agree with the previous poster re masks - they've been worn from primary upwards since October and both my teacher friends and my children say compliance levels were high. Only one class in my children's school has been closed all year, plus one week of general closure during the last lockdown.

Bumping

I think in these types of situations an e-mail to your MP is worthwhile. As ever, one e-mail won't change policy, but if MPs get multiple e-mails on the same topic they will take notice (particularly as recent by-election results have illustrated that few MPs can rely on their seat being a safe seat).

My friend in Spain says his school has had facemasks for all at all times, infra red cameras, screens and ventilation. Seems to have worked for his school.

Are masks still being worn in schools in France and Spain, or have you broken up for Summer now?

@ineedaholidaynow

School in France finished on Tuesday this week, though the older ones have been out for a few weeks due to exams being held in mid/late June.
Masks remained mandatory indoors right up to the end, as they are everywhere, but outdoor mask wearing (including the playground) was lifted on 19 June.

I’ve heard that American schools in places like New York are getting air filters combined with continued mask wearing and vaccinations for under 18s. Co2 monitors have also been recommended by some commentators though I’m not sure about the benefits of this beyond altering you to poor ventilation. Other European countries are vaccinating their children and continuing with masks also. Germany issued ventilation plans for its schools who were required to fully open their windows for air exchange every 20 minutes with air filters for schools with poor ventilation. Meanwhile we have little more than an open window - assuming our classrooms have windows! As a parent and teacher I am less than impressed. I have worked throughout all of this but have decided enough is enough and I’m now actively applying for other (non-teaching) roles. In the meantime I’m continuing to wear a N95 mask and my kids are continuing to wear their masks in school too.

I don’t know if it’s different guidance where you are OP but I work in a primary school and we are definitely wearing masks, as are all other primary schools in the area. Secondary children are wearing them all the time too.
Separate from ventilation I know

@twolittleboysonetiredmum I'm in london, uk

No ventilation system installed here (Italy) but rooms aired after every lesson, obligatory surgical or FF masks (no homemade, no fashion cloth ones) They're vaccinating the over 12s now and trying to make sure they've all had at least 1 dose by September but prediction is that masks and distanced desks etc will still be in place for a while.

I’m in the uk but by luck the design of my son’s school (classrooms all around a central playground with double doors to outside) means the ventilation is very good. Completely anecdotal I know but we haven’t had any closure other than the national ones.

Masks are still worn in Scottish schools secondary anyway. Up until they broke up for summer my 15 yo son wore them. None of my 3 kids in school has needed tested or isolated once.

I'm interested. Those of you wearing N95 or FFP masks are you wearing the ones with valves where your potentially covid contaminated breath goes over others. This doesn't matter if everyone is wearing them as they are protected by their own mask but otherwise you are only protecting yourself, not others.

DS is in Scottish HS. They have all the windows open in all the classrooms and wear masks. He hasn't caught it or had to isolate. All of the cases from the school happened outside school and there wasn't any in school cross infection according to DBIL who is a senior teacher.
Big outbreak in DS's old primary as the school is open plan and has windows that only open 2 inches and none of classroom areas are anywhere near outside doors. The school is usually stifling hot. No masks either. Interestingly there were a few PS outbreaks here and they nearly all were in the same design building that the council obviously used in the 80s. The older schools with more ventilation seemed to avoid it.