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Original poster

1 in 10 students with COVID

139 replies

catchingzzzeds · 20/10/2021 18:28

The secondary school I work at now has 1 in 10 students and 10 teaching staff at home with COVID. We started the week with 65 cases and today we have over 100.
Why are the government not helping us? If we could bring back masks and bubbles we could at least stand a chance of containing the spread. I also think advising that whole households isolate if a family member tests positive would help too.
We are finding that siblings are testing positive a week after the first household case.
Roll on half term, here's hoping it acts a bit of a circuit breaker.

OP posts:
Original poster
catchingzzzeds · 21/10/2021 07:13

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for some measures to limit the spread. I don't want schools to close, the damage that causes is far too great, but education of millions of students is being affected by the current situation.
I'm particularly concerned about the GCSE years, some of the students isolating are managing to do some work at home but many are too unwell. A lot of teachers are ill too, some are managing to work from home whilst unwell but some are not. The numbers now are so great in my school that teaching those at home and those in school is becoming more and more challenging.
I've been running catch up sessions before school for returning students but this is putting a lot of pressure on them.
I don't have all these answers but would like those in charge to have a better understanding of what it is like in schools right now rather than just blindly demanding we all carry on as if nothing is happening.

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/10/2021 07:41

@LilyPond2

We have to switch our mindset from caring about the number of infections to the number of hospital admissions, that’s all that matters So you don't think it matters if people are left unable to work or otherwise have their lives blighted through long Covid provided those people never required admission to hospital?
Honestly I think we hear these words and get scared but in all honesty long Covid is a post viral condition, it’s not the first or the last. Can’t live in fear forever
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/10/2021 07:43

Unvaccinated children have it and the vaccine roll out for children seems very slow - there is the answer you can roll it out as quick as you like if people don’t want it then not much you can do. I certainly wouldn’t vaccinate my child if they were 12, and yes I’m jabbed!

RavenclawsRoar · 21/10/2021 07:48

It's crazy op. My school has had to shut early for half term because there's simply not enough staff and supply agencies are drained. It has spread like wildfire.

Original poster
catchingzzzeds · 21/10/2021 07:52

@RavenclawsRoar

It's crazy op. My school has had to shut early for half term because there's simply not enough staff and supply agencies are drained. It has spread like wildfire.
It is crazy. The staff with COVID are double jabbed, I understand the jabs are preventing hospital admission and I'm glad but the rapid spread is seriously impacting schools and education and that needs to be recognised.
OP posts:
Warhertisuff · 21/10/2021 07:54

@RavenclawsRoar

It's crazy op. My school has had to shut early for half term because there's simply not enough staff and supply agencies are drained. It has spread like wildfire.
And after half-term your school should be much more normal as Covid has swept through. That was the plan... It's inevitable Covid will pass through schools at some point. You're about to be through to the other side.
HitchhikersGuide · 21/10/2021 08:02

So what? Everyone who wants to be vaccinated, is. Have no fear, 6 monthly boosters of pharma coffers will be rolled out for eternity. Covid is endemic. This is nothing more than health anxiety and NHS failure leading to a massive self induced public health crisis. Masks don't work, lockdowns don't work. Stop testing and we've got no Covid 'crisis'.

highstreetdiestreet · 21/10/2021 08:04

@Watapalava

how many are actually seriously ill?
I would also like to know
Dentistlakes · 21/10/2021 08:10

Some schools do have a lot of cases but many do not. I we need to reintroduce masks across the board (we still have them in Scotland), but I don’t support shutting all schools again and moving to online learning. Schools should be dealt with on a case by case basis. Our school hasn’t been badly affected yet ( we never had more than a few cases last year either and those were traced back to mixing socially). We need a more fluid approach this time.

The vaccine booster rollout also needs to be prioritised for teachers.

beigebrownblue · 21/10/2021 08:21

@Silverswirl

The plan is to let it spread now. Everyone will be exposed and will either develop symptoms or not. Fight it off or die. Sorry to say but that’s how it is with every other known virus out there.
What you mean TB? Meningitus? Aids?

Some people really are delusional.

People can get Covid more than once anyway.

And actually as we know it is not just a case of 'fight it off or die'

which is a fascist attitude to start with i.e. survival of the 'fittest'...

If people get Lond Covid which many are, including young people it can have long term effects on their health and ultimately cost the state and the NHS even more money...time...etc.

In which universerse does your comment make any kind of sense?

When you get it, will you appreciate NHS staff leaving you on your own with a 'fight it off or die' approach?
Don't think so.

beigebrownblue · 21/10/2021 08:23

@HitchhikersGuide

So what? Everyone who wants to be vaccinated, is. Have no fear, 6 monthly boosters of pharma coffers will be rolled out for eternity. Covid is endemic. This is nothing more than health anxiety and NHS failure leading to a massive self induced public health crisis. Masks don't work, lockdowns don't work. Stop testing and we've got no Covid 'crisis'.
Nope. Second vaccinnations have not been rolled out in colleges. The government presently says not until they are seventeen. The decision hasn't been made.

So this age group at least along with many others is expected to attend a place of learning unprotected.

Is that how you secure a young person's future?

Bollocks.

puppeteer · 21/10/2021 08:25

"You're about to be through to the other side."

Yep. That's it, @Warhertisuff.

People need to keep their shit together.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/10/2021 08:37

When you get it, will you appreciate NHS staff leaving you on your own with a 'fight it off or die' approach? never drank too much or been overweight?! Nhs should really only be for perfect people

sofakingcool · 21/10/2021 08:50

Our school (secondary) has gone to mask wearing and a slightly different timetable for year groups with more than a few cases. So that year comes into school 10 mins early and leaves 10 mins early so as to avoid too much mixing

SleepyMathematician · 21/10/2021 09:12

@Warhertisuff

It’s a disaster in the making while vaccines are wearing off for those over 50.

Most of them would have got only their second dose less than six months ago (and those who had it really early like my DM have had a booster), and it's not like vaccines suddenly fully lose their potency.

That’s not true about boosters. I am CEV and had my 2nd dose well over 6 months ago. My parents also had theirs well over 6 months ago, as did my in laws. None of us have been contacted for boosters and when we try to book it says we have to wait to be contacted. I’m a teacher and have no choice but to mix with many children with covid. I can’t afford to just give up my job (as I’ve seen suggested on here), and nor should I have to.

I’m getting fed up with the media narrative that people over 50 have had their boosters, or that they won’t have them. The roll out is massively delayed in some areas and they can’t have them. I’m desperate for mine as I know I’m in a precarious position right now.

LetitGhost · 21/10/2021 09:28

Our secondary school had a dramatic rise and masks were brought back for corridors and busy areas.

Some primary schools have classes with up to18 children off with Covid and nothing is being done. The class stays open and the spread continues.

This government don't learn from their mistakes and don't even seem to be following their own plan. 🙄

1 in 10 students with COVID
MarshaBradyo · 21/10/2021 09:29

@LetitGhost

Our secondary school had a dramatic rise and masks were brought back for corridors and busy areas.

Some primary schools have classes with up to18 children off with Covid and nothing is being done. The class stays open and the spread continues.

This government don't learn from their mistakes and don't even seem to be following their own plan. 🙄

It will pass.

It is faster but then dc have had it.

LetitGhost · 21/10/2021 09:30

@Watapalava

how many are actually seriously ill?

Two adults I know who have it at the moment can barely stand up to get themselves a drink of water. Although they are unlikely to be hospitalised, they are very ill, despite being fully vaccinated.

LetitGhost · 21/10/2021 09:31

It may pass in the school, but the spread will still have happened. The government plan was to reduce the spread, but they aren't doing anything to achieve that!

MarshaBradyo · 21/10/2021 09:34

@LetitGhost

It may pass in the school, but the spread will still have happened. The government plan was to reduce the spread, but they aren't doing anything to achieve that!
No it was to let it spread in schools after summer peak had happened

Vaccination will only stop 30k cases, it’s tiny. Ds still got symptoms and a positive as did many of his friends.

A few will be lucky and avoid their 10 day isolation but in a few weeks most schools will be through it.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 21/10/2021 09:36

My son went on a school trip where Covid spread through them like wildfire. That was three weeks ago. One of the teachers is in hospital and I’m still unwell (the whole family caught it off my son) and it’s a big problem for me as I am self-employed.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 21/10/2021 09:38

And I don’t understand why they want it to spread. We all had it in 2020 then all got it again in 2021. It didn’t do us any good to have had it before. In fact, I’m more ill now than I was in 2020 (plus one Pfizer).

MarshaBradyo · 21/10/2021 09:39

Reinfection is rare if you look at ONS

But spreading now means immunity for dc over winter

Mistlewoeandwhine · 21/10/2021 09:42

It can’t be rare if every single one of us in my family got reinfected.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 21/10/2021 09:42

We have no underlying health conditions btw.