How many cases in a class to close the bubble?

[Andacherryonthetop]

Hi. I’m in wales and I know bubbles aren’t really a thing anymore. But in my sons (primary) year group (across 2 classes) there are currently 9 cases of confirmed covid. I was wondering if it gets to a certain number, are schools meant to carry on or move to home learning does anyone know? Thanks

In Scotland it seems to be for as long as they have staff to teach those with no symptoms/negative pcrs

I’m in England and told that if 10 cases in 10 day period then school “seeks advice from local public health teams”. Not very clear what that advice might be but it suggests closing class would be absolute last resort. They might temporary send everyone home and ask everyone to pcr though.

@Frazzled2207

I’m in England and told that if 10 cases in 10 day period then school “seeks advice from local public health teams”. Not very clear what that advice might be but it suggests closing class would be absolute last resort. They might temporary send everyone home and ask everyone to pcr though.

I'm in England & this is my understanding too. X cases within 10 days & they seek advice from local PH dept. who can then advise them to close for X days so everyone can take pcr & they can deep clean (similar to when norovirus is going through a school).

There are 3 in one class at my son's school (actually more than rest of the time from March 20 to now).
Class is still open but that one class are eating separate from rest of school and not joining in communal worship (church school). Adults are wearing masks other than in classrooms.
But that's it, no other measures.

@Frazzled2207

I’m in England and told that if 10 cases in 10 day period then school “seeks advice from local public health teams”. Not very clear what that advice might be but it suggests closing class would be absolute last resort. They might temporary send everyone home and ask everyone to pcr though.

Gosh that’s high! I had it in my head it was going to be five cases in one class.

I suppose once you get to ten that’s approaching half the class potentially being out and starts to be an educational issue (catching up/home learning provision maybe?).

@Cornettoninja
I guess so
I have no idea how schools are meant to be able to potentially deal with half the class at home tbh. But I suppose the children are less likely to repeatedly get covid than they were forced to repeatedly self isolate last year.

I’m in England, DCs school published their outbreak plan last week but haven’t said how many cases make it an outbreak.

One DC tested positive on Saturday (and already passed it on to ECV DH) and following a conversation with school I have had to send the other DC into school this morning. They are twins and in the same form group and some of the same classes, it’s an outbreak waiting to happen.

The positive definitely came from school as DC haven’t been anywhere other than school for at least two weeks. They went back on the 2nd and any spare time is spent gaming at home.

One of the classes in our year group is over 10 (I think around 15 or so) and the extra advice from public health england was

 Additional deep cleaning and increased frequency of the high touch cleaning regime
 Providing extra space for distancing at lunch times
 Reiterating hand hygiene and ventilation message

The year group has been separated and the teaching staff having just seen them on break are back to wearing masks. So far though only one staff member affected and I think it is that which triggers it.

Work is being sent.

So basically I dont think much triggers a shutdown

We've got 1 in 8 pupils off with Covid or waiting on a PCR test at the moment. Everything is continuing as normal - mainstream secondary. Not sure whether there is a plan but I'd imagine the numbers are only going to increase as the days go on - before dropping as everyone will have had it.

Our school have said they'll consult PHE if they have four cases in a bubble of children or staff. They'll also consider what action they can take if bubble stays in school.

Consulting the PHE doesnt seem to do very much!

We have loads in my dd primary. Assembly back to zoom. Parents not allowed on site again and masks at pickup. One year has at least 10 cases (60 in the year) another 4 years have cases - don't know how many.

We are in 11 plus area and that's tomorrow - sure that will spread it to the other schools that are not as affected!

We've got over a quarter of one year group out :(

@Newnormal99

We have loads in my dd primary. Assembly back to zoom. Parents not allowed on site again and masks at pickup. One year has at least 10 cases (60 in the year) another 4 years have cases - don't know how many.

We are in 11 plus area and that's tomorrow - sure that will spread it to the other schools that are not as affected!

As we are in the same area I think given we too have 11+ tomorrow you could be right.

Our year has around 20 cases in a year of just under 90 and others years have started.

I think it could blow through the area fairly quickly them. Given DD is at one of them I hope it doesnt hit that as well!

I thought dfe guidance was 5 in 1 class or 10% school intake postive then teach outside.
Primarily head says they only inform parents with warn and inform letter at 5 cases or above.

@3asAbird it is outside as much as possible

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1011704/20210817_Contingency_Framework_FINAL.pdf

We have well over the threshold (one class has I think 17 cases) and they are out more but still in the classroom.

It does say extreme measures will shut down a class or year group. I think given were we are at DS school it is pretty extreme and nothing like 5 or 10%. That just kicks in things like masks, outside more, separate out the year group

We've been told now that kids will need to isolate if member of their household has it. Makes sense.

I'm in England & this is my understanding too. X cases within 10 days & they seek advice from local PH dept. who can then advise them to close for X days so everyone can take pcr & they can deep clean

Hah, you'd think so, but the government official contingency plan says that in the event of an outbreak (10% cases within close contacts within 10 days) the school should consider opening windows so long as it's not too cold, maybe hold lessons outside, and clean the light switches.

@Hcolhcsra

We've been told now that kids will need to isolate if member of their household has it. Makes sense.

Is this a school decision? There is nothing in law to say siblings must isolate. But it makes sense iMO to keep them from schoolX

@noblegiraffe Hold lessons outside and clean light switches Is that it? The mind boggles.

[quote SilverGlitterBaubles]@noblegiraffe Hold lessons outside and clean light switches Is that it? The mind boggles.[/quote]
Yes. That's it.

I think it’s more than 5 cases counts as an outbreak and then teachers can open a window (as long as nobody gets cold).

Last term my kids secondary went online when the number of kids and teachers at home self isolating hit 1,000. Obviously most of these 1,000 didnt have anything, they were just close contacts. Now that close contacts no longer have to isolate I'd expect them to keep teaching whilst there are staff available to do so.

Nick Gibb has said that he will be asking RSCs to phone schools where they believe that schools have implemented covid measures that affect the education of kids and he gave 'sending too many children home' as an example. I wonder if these schools asking close contacts to isolate will be told not to.

@Frazzled2207 I assume it was the advice given by public health England, that and wash your hands, open the windows.