It’s a disgrace pupils in Scotland must continue with this farce

[Igorussia]

Mask wearing, social distancing. It affects their learning, interaction and it’s gone on for long enough. Enough is enough. It was highlighted that masks are useless against the delta variant unless N95 masks. My children will be exempt from now on. This has been going on for far too long and one of my children has become very badly affected mentally by lockdown. Fuck this.

...and there goes another one
I don't know about you, but I quite like it when my dc have teachers in their classes not vacancies. Human enjoys not getting sick? Burn the witch!

@TempsPerdu

@Pastrydame Personally I’d want my child being taught by teachers who actually like kids, and who regard them as more than potential biohazards. The poster stated herself that she was looking forward to a job that involved no contact with children.

@Igorussia

As I said there was a piece on sky news a few days ago about only the N95 masks helping against deltA

One news article , I'd say needs more research , as one news article is hardly the same as detailed analysis from scientists.

@MrsHamlet Because there can’t possibly be more than one poster who takes issue with someone who clearly has such low regard for the children they work with.

From the context of the original post it appears the poster was also complaining about catching ‘the usual coughs and colds’ in school, so I’d suggest that even pre-Covid it was hardly a suitable working environment for them.

I assume certain posters on this thread also won't like the request to do LFTs before the return to school, and twice weekly after that, or the plan (which NS clearly seems to be aiming toward) to have teens offered the vaccine?

My (ASN) son is starting main stream high school in 2 weeks. There is no way he would cope wearing a mask all day in a classroom. So, what happens there - does he just not wear a mask (and also be bullied for not wearing one).

Why would he be bullied? If he can't wear one, let the school know they will tell the teachers. I mean, no one can predict what students pick on each other over, but don't assume the worst.

@pinkhousesarebest

What’s with the British and masks for dc? I am a teacher in another European country. Masks mandatory from 6 since September and schools were closed for a week only. Everyone adapted, only one dc in my class got Covid( from home) and my dd’s exams went ahead as normal.

It's shameful. A sort of national stupidity. The same idiots who rant and rave about masks then also scream impotently about schools closing.

I don’t feel strongly re masks. Secondary dc wore them when asked no issue.

But all our closure bar one isolation (due to one case) was due to lockdowns rather than high school cases.

In other parts of the country did masks reduce repeated isolations in secondary when introduced?

So cloth and surgical masks stop large virus droplets but they do not stop smaller particles from escaping. With the Kent variant and now the more transmissible Delta variant, you need less of a viral load and small particle build up in the air even if wearing a cloth mask or disposal surgical mask will not prevent you from catching it if the place is poorly ventilated.
Coupled with the fact that many wear them wrong, touch the front (with potential viral load on), don't wash them after each use or don't change them frequently enough (as soon as they become damp with moisture from your breath) , they are not as effective as many people like to think.
Against the first variant they were more effective due to the larger droplet size. But yes against delta the only real full protection given is from a FFP2 or FFP3 mask but many hang onto info from a year ago.
Yes cloth masks stop larger droplets but if in a poorly ventilated area this still won't prevent anyone from catching it if they are there a period of time (e.g a school day)

The biggest risk factor is ventilation, hence SG is also now putting CO2 monitors in schools.

For all the posters which say what about CEV children etc I'm afraid if it's a poorly ventilated area (many classrooms are) then actually little protection is given from a standard cloth mask and if your in this situation then invest in a FFP2 or FFP3 masks instead.

In healthcare workers for instance (who regularly wash hands and change masks) the only ones that had 100% protection against contracting covid were in the more advanced masks

I don't agree with SG keeping them in schools because it effects learning no matter how hard thd teacher tries. They are better improving ventilation as sadly this virus is not going to disappear.

Children are thankfully low risk of serious illness and latest studies are also showing low risk of long covid (approx 1% at 8 weeks past infection from latest Zoe app webinar)

As for those who said they prefer scottish rules you may wish to understand them in more detail. Fancy dancing at a wedding with a mask on?
They are clarifying if they are needed in nightclubs which is a bonkers thought.

As said sadly this virus is here to stay we all need to live with it long term, I'm just grateful that a large proportion of adults who are greatest at risk have been vaccinated so it makes it less deadly.

I teach abroad. And I'm shocked that the UK are considering teaching without masks. If we can do it in a hot country surely the UK can? even if it protects a small minority? I've lost 4 very fit, healthy, young members of my family seems a small price to pay .......

@maddy68

I teach abroad. And I'm shocked that the UK are considering teaching without masks. If we can do it in a hot country surely the UK can? even if it protects a small minority? I've lost 4 very fit, healthy, young members of my family seems a small price to pay .......

Sorry for your loss.

The masks (unless a FFP2 or 3) do not offer the wearer protection though if the area is poorly ventilated with little natural airflow or a proper non recirculating ventilation system. The vast majority of people in the UK also do not use or wear masks properly. So they almost become more of a visual aspect then any real protection.

Yes it can be argued that viral load will build quicker with the large droplets as well if nobody is wearing them but build up of small droplets in the air over a time period then sat there will also carry the risk of catching it mask or not if poorly ventilated.

Majority of studies show greatest risk is now poor ventilation. It's why UK emphasis changed from handwashing constantly to mentioning ventilation more. But they don't wish to scare people off daily life so it's played down quite a lot.

@Bizawitnn it won’t let me quote you, but I apologise, I misunderstood your comment then I think, I didn’t fully get the context.

To the OP: Your comments about masks are based on information from Sky news. Sky are part of the MSM, and all through this pandemic I’ve read and been told that we can’t trust the MSM because they lie and feed people propaganda, so how can we trust what they’re saying about masks? And if we can, does that mean we can trust other things they say about COVID or just some of them?

@MeanderingGently being a teacher or working in a school prob wasn't the right place for you anyway even before covid if thats how you feel about children

Majority of studies show greatest risk is now poor ventilation. It's why UK emphasis changed from handwashing constantly to mentioning ventilation more. But they don't wish to scare people off daily life so it's played down quite a lot

But unfortunately schools do not have adequate ventilation. This year I actually taught an A-level class in a room without even a window (it was bloody miserable, let alone unsafe). The windows we do have only open a few inches anyway due to their safety locks. I’m not sure what the answer is to protect school communities. It was difficult teaching in a mask but I will carry on regardless (not in Scotland but I will do so) and I’ll keep maintaining distance and hope for the best!

@berrylands

We always knew N95 masks protect better. What part of that article says cloth masks are useless? It is very irresponsible to mislead people about this.

Agree completely.

@Igorussia

I think it’s you that are the governments’ puppets! You’re doing a great job of spouting their propaganda.

Luckily these masks are not legally enforceable and they are being binned as I write.

Propaganda 🙄🙄🙄

So sick of people being utterly hyperbolic about this.

@2X4B523P - erm, no they aren’t. They are dropping like a stone..

Why do people make up such bullshit?! No wonder people are sat terrified at home. 🙄

@2X4B523P

Wise decision, we're now 15 days since the reduction of mask use in England and cases are skyrocketing.

are you reading the news? You seem a couple of weeks out of date.

@Pastrydame

I assume certain posters on this thread also won't like the request to do LFTs before the return to school, and twice weekly after that, or the plan (which NS clearly seems to be aiming toward) to have teens offered the vaccine?

Correct. My son won't be doing any of that as explained previously. He has dyspraxia and whether it is caused by that or not we have panic, crying, hyper ventilating before the test is anywhere near him.

@Bobholll

Indeed they are, I was being sarcastic. It was only two and a bit weeks ago that Neil Ferguson speculated we could be on 200k cases per day as a result of the 19th. Yet to see any evidence of that.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/uk-covid-cases-could-hit-200000-a-day-says-neil-ferguson-scientist-behind-lockdown-strategy-england

Weird thread similar to lots seen last summer ain't it.

What we need is "masks good. Better masks better".

Yep, that's the message. I wish there was the opportunity to vaccinate my children so they don't suffer from long covid. How d'ye feel about that OP? takes wild guess