Time to think about closing the schools

[DolphinFC]

ONS survey finds that education staff are 37% more likely to catch Covid than other workers.

Previous data showed they were no more likely to catch covid than other workers and many people (especially MNetters) felt that this was all the proof needed to keep schools open.

Well, new data shows the reverse is now the case.

@MabelsApron

OP, it honestly wouldn’t matter if teachers were 37% likely to actually die of COVID, the responses would be exactly the same. Schools cannot close under any circumstances.

It doesn’t matter to anyone, least of all people on a parenting website.

Since it’s not the case it’s not a factor

Although the same could be said to amount of harm to dc for some

And in fact the criteria was 'keyworker or vulnerable'. I think when there's 80% of kids in under the 'keyworker' definition surely the rest by default become 'vulnerable' as they are so seriously disadvantaged by being stuck at home and not able to see their friends whilst viewing an almost full classroom online? The mental health consequences are not insignificant.

No

@QueefofSheena

They’ll be closing anyway or not reopening straight away in January if staff are sick and there’s no supply. How many of you who are vehemently against schools closing are also not going to take notice of further restrictions? The selfishness on here staggers me

I'd rather every single other restriction come back into play to keep schools open.

I've cancelled two Christmas meet-ups with friends (well for both, everyone was in agreement to cancel) and don't intend on going anywhere indoors for next few weeks, apart from PIL for Christmas lunch. (But if that is again banned, will adhere to it as we did last year).

It doesn't

And I really think teachers should be a priority for boosters and for antivirals too if / when they catch covid.

There HAVE to be mitigations to make classrooms safer, there are LOTS more things they could do which they are NOT doing. All it needs is money. Can we get the money back from Matt Hancock's pub landlord? That might help.

@manysummersago

I think that’s a bit disingenuous tbh *@Piggyinblankets*

There’s a world of difference between a mental health condition qualifying for CAHMs and a generally unhappy and unsettled child, anyway.

In what way?

It is literally my job so I do know most referrals are for longstanding issues. Many of the referrals were put on hold because of lockdown, indeed. But not specifically because of schools who continued to make referrals that then went nowhere.

Mental Health issues in young people have been on the rise for many years. I don't doubt they have been exacerbated but there are other issues too.

FFS not this again. Blaming the evil little virus spreaders eh?

Seriously. Just stop. Let kids have a gaming education. We're all vaxxed. Life our lives. Stop picking on kids.

So what if teachers are more likely to catch it?
Everyone has been double, and many now triple vaccinated, the chances of being seriously ill from Covid now are very very small , so they can't really use the whole 'its not safe for us' line any more. Everyone is going to get this strain anyway.

Exactly.

Of course some jobs have more covid exposure than others. Doesn't mean the jobs aren't worthwhile?!

No.

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully

FFS not this again. Blaming the evil little virus spreaders eh?

Seriously. Just stop. Let kids have a gaming education. We're all vaxxed. Life our lives. Stop picking on kids.

Who? The ONS?

And please come talk to my DS who during lockdown told me TWICE he wanted to die because school was closed. He can't cope with remote learning. He's a social learner. He needs to be in school.

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully

FFS not this again. Blaming the evil little virus spreaders eh?

Seriously. Just stop. Let kids have a gaming education. We're all vaxxed. Life our lives. Stop picking on kids.

Flaming not gaming 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully

FFS not this again. Blaming the evil little virus spreaders eh?

Seriously. Just stop. Let kids have a gaming education. We're all vaxxed. Life our lives. Stop picking on kids.

Not blaming the kids. Of course it's not their fault, it's a virus that does what a virus has got to do. It's the sheer numbers of people (kids and adults) in poorly ventilated places that is the problem.

Isn't our kids' education important?

Of course schools shouldn't close!!

OP, it honestly wouldn’t matter if teachers were 37% likely to actually die of COVID, the responses would be exactly the same

Except they aren't, so it's a completely ridiculous comparison.

I think for a lot of people the reason they aren't particularly concerned about the 37% figure is precisely because it doesn't mean they are likely to die especially if vaccinated. It's dramatics like this that will keep us in this mess forever.

For the majority of people, especially with vaccines, Covid will not be a serious illness so no I'm not falling over myself with concern that my child's teacher is more likely than me to catch it. She's probably more likely than me to catch a lot of things, working with kids and all, that's always been the case.

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully

And please come talk to my DS who during lockdown told me TWICE he wanted to die because school was closed. He can't cope with remote learning. He's a social learner. He needs to be in school.

That’s so hard

Dc need to be with peers

@Piggyinblankets not 100% sure what you mean but I was replying to the op.

@NearlyAlwaysInsane

Tosh. So they're more likely to catch Covid than healthcare workers then? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

You have to wear a mask to see a healthcare worker

It's the sheer numbers of people (kids and adults) in poorly ventilated places that is the problem.

Why is that a problem?

Everyone is double vaxxed and vulnerable teachers hopefully boosted.

Omicron might be much milder than Delta, so really not a problem?!

The OP wasn't blaming the kids though. It's ONS figures.

To be fair, re deaths and occupations no figures have been published for ages so no one knows.

My sons school has closed today with more than 50% of children absent, they said it’s Norovirus, But I’m not sure if that’s all it is. We just got sent an emergency text saying to collect all children ASAP and no school until January.

Children should NOT be forced to make sacrifices in order to keep adults safe. They've already missed out on so much.

@Blubells

It's the sheer numbers of people (kids and adults) in poorly ventilated places that is the problem.

Why is that a problem?

Everyone is double vaxxed and vulnerable teachers hopefully boosted.

Omicron might be much milder than Delta, so really not a problem?!

Teacher absence from schools is a huge problem though.

@Blubells because the more Covid there is, the more the adults are off sick, the ratio of safety adult:pupil becomes a safety issue therefore classes/year groups/schools will close.