Should schools close again?

[FuckinGoddess]

I’m at the end of my tether.

Worried about Omicron, of course, and the devastating effects it could have on lives.

Worried about children missing out on even more education. Worried about being forced to stay at home again. And worried about people dying.

What do you think will happen? What should happen ?

Obv ideally schools would stay open but no one knows yet if the new varient will result in high hospitalisations or how children will.be impacted.

If data is good thats great but we need to recognise that if data is bad action will.be needed to ensure hospitlisations dont go out of control.
I would happily have children home if it was needed. Is it hard yes, but this isnt normal times...
I remember before march 2020 closure people were adament schopls wouldnt close and that the UK wouldnt lockdown. Pandemics are unpredictable and we have to follow the data and the scoence community advise.
If this varient is low risk, we may still have a high risk varient or a different pandemic in the future which requires drastic measures

@Naughtynovembertree

Well both dds said no one bothered with their masks today? So... If omicron gets a foothold in a school what will happen? I can't see the problem with simply extending the Xmas holidays for this by two weeks. One week either side. The last week of term is usually Christmas stuff anyway. The first week is different and usually inset days anyway.

Well again, what should working parents simply do for those two weeks?

The last week of term is usually Christmas stuff anyway. The first week is different and usually inset days anyway.
DS has a GCSE mock exam in the last week of term. No Christmas stuff.

No inset days at our school either, they are back on Tuesday 4 January.

I think if they do have another lockdown which at this point I’m not ruling out purely based on the fact our government couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery and are totally fucking useless, I’d say it would be shops and hospitality that will close and they will keep schools open this time.

@Covidworries

Obv ideally schools would stay open but no one knows yet if the new varient will result in high hospitalisations or how children will.be impacted.

If data is good thats great but we need to recognise that if data is bad action will.be needed to ensure hospitlisations dont go out of control.
I would happily have children home if it was needed. Is it hard yes, but this isnt normal times...
I remember before march 2020 closure people were adament schopls wouldnt close and that the UK wouldnt lockdown. Pandemics are unpredictable and we have to follow the data and the scoence community advise.
If this varient is low risk, we may still have a high risk varient or a different pandemic in the future which requires drastic measures

No, we need to recognise that the cost of closing schools again is far too high, and ensure the Tories understand that this also includes political costs to them so they're disinclined to do it.

I think it is too early to say.

The scientific advisors are clearly worried and warning of a potentially large wave coming our way. We have seen clearly how quickly infections spread in schools (unsurprisingly). Schools are currently experiencing large numbers of infections and high levels of child and staff absences.

So, to make this safe, some serious mitigations need to be put in place asap.

Covid: Omicron may require 'very stringent response', say Sage scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59484322

The government know schools are vectors of transmission and when things are bad, closing them is about the only thing that stops it in its tracks.

Saying schools are ‘vital’ and must never close means nothing if they don’t put any mitigations in place. Having masks for only some people in only some schools for only some areas means very little.

I don’t want schools to close either, but I wouldn’t rule it out in the new year, if the government continues the way it’s going.

'The first week is usually inset days anyway'

At my kids school they're doing mock GCSEs starting 4th January. Last week of term will be intensive revision.

And NO schools should not close.

@littleburn

No schools shouldn't shut, not least because they are such an important part of child safeguarding.

I agree with this.

How many more kids are going to be abused with none noticing because they're not in school?

Arthur wasn't in school was he?

puppeteer
This is the thing, though: it doesn’t make sense to put in place many mitigations.

Putting in better ventilation would improve the health of a huge amount of children (and education staff).

You only need to consider how many illnesses that it would help reduce or prevent to see that it would be a viable long term investment.

But only if people and the government really care about education.

It’s true it would help some things. But it wouldn’t help stop Om. Which is what we’re talking about.

By all means campaign for it. In fact I’d actually rather like us to channel efforts towards something genuinely beneficial for a change.

(Rather than damaging — “close the schools to save us from lockdown”… good grief.)

But if you think adding ventilation will stop the need for a lockdown, it won’t.

What will stop a lockdown is finding that Om doesn’t need one.

So l, if a vaccine tweak is needed for omicron, will measures be needed in the interim?

I truly hope not. The last closure set ds off on a bad MH spiral.
Closing schools is so detrimental to children - it has to be the absolute last resort.
Omicron is hopefully not a deadly strain - then it’s not as dangerous

Only if the reason the tweak is needed is because it is really bad and spreads like wildfire.

If Om’s actually not a spreader, then we won’t.

If Om’s actually not serious, then we won’t.

The next few weeks are key.

But don’t be misguided: all the measures we have now are of no benefit if either of those come true.

Yep. That’s the one to back — hope.

That may come across snarky. Actually I mean it — hope is the right strategy.

Because actually our strategy for Delta was turning out well. (Whereas for Europe, it’s a different story.)

If we do put in place (needless) measures, then we risk damaging our Delta strategy. And that would be a real shame.

[quote AcceptableFox]I think it is too early to say.

The scientific advisors are clearly worried and warning of a potentially large wave coming our way. We have seen clearly how quickly infections spread in schools (unsurprisingly). Schools are currently experiencing large numbers of infections and high levels of child and staff absences.

So, to make this safe, some serious mitigations need to be put in place asap.

Covid: Omicron may require 'very stringent response', say Sage scientists [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59484322]][/quote]
Well, they would say that wouldn’t they? I mean it’s pretty much the stock phrase for people who think that Covid is the only thing matters.

No school closures. Stick masks on the kids if necessary to slow down the spread. Absolutely no closures. They've been so, so damaging for so many kids.

@Howshouldibehave

The government know schools are vectors of transmission and when things are bad, closing them is about the only thing that stops it in its tracks.

Saying schools are ‘vital’ and must never close means nothing if they don’t put any mitigations in place. Having masks for only some people in only some schools for only some areas means very little.

I don’t want schools to close either, but I wouldn’t rule it out in the new year, if the government continues the way it’s going.

Absolutely this! I think schools should close early, before the shit really hits the fan. in a couple of weeks. infection is going to be rife amongst children and adults. They'll then bring it home to their families/community etc. .I don't want hospitality being affected this Christmas again. because of superspreading schools. Some Businesses are already ion their knees, and can't take much more.

Kids in school (primary schools) are doing very little anyway. It's All just Xmas films and crafts. Can easily do this at home.OTOH, every effort should be made to keep secondary schools open. and exam years prioritized. Having said that. my next door neighbours kids are at home because their year group has closed because of lack of teachers and no supply available. This will just happen more and more during winter!

Kids in school (primary schools) are doing very little anyway. It's All just Xmas films and crafts. Can easily do this at home

And whose going to look after them with their parents working?

Obv ideally schools would stay open but no one knows yet if the new varient will result in high hospitalisations or how children will.be impacted.

Covidworries, I agree.

Until we've got a better handle on the age group risk profile for the new variant, it's impossible to say anything definitive.

"Kids in school (primary schools) are doing very little anyway. It's All just Xmas films and crafts. Can easily do this at home"

Hmmm, but I'll be at work???

Younger kids might, but my DDs in Yr4&6 are definitely not just doing craft and watching films. Even today, the "Winter Wonderland" put together by the PTA each class just has its slot and most of the day is work.
(They have ice skating and reindeer and all the teachers dressed as elves.)

Ideally, vaccines and boosters become mandatory, and children can be vaccinated too. Schools shouldn’t close again