Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Delaying sending DC back to school due to covid - thoughts?

270 replies

bubblesaway · 03/01/2022 19:31

Just that really. Thinking of not sending DC (4) back to school this week and waiting until we know more about the data re Omicron post Christmas. Not sure if I can legally do it but as she's under 5 and only in reception thinking it may be okay but also not sure if I should. Wondering if any other people thinking of doing the same.?

OP posts:
summertimerolls · 04/01/2022 01:03

@Covidworries

This graph shows covid hospitalisations are higher right now than than at any other point during pandemic.

This is from about a week ago so we are waiting for data update

For completeness it should probably be stated that cases of children admitted to hospital with Covid are defined as those who have tested positive in the 14 days prior to being admitted, or testing positive while in hospital. With positive cases as high as they are, I think it's extremely important not to take a single data point and extrapolate it to catastrophe. It's not at all clear from that graph which was posted by a Twitter account with a clear agenda, what the actual figures are of children hospitalised directly by the effects of Covid alone.
Marynotsocontrary · 04/01/2022 01:05

@Covidworries

This graph shows covid hospitalisations are higher right now than than at any other point during pandemic.

This is from about a week ago so we are waiting for data update

This is what I don't understand Covidworries. Why are we not worried about the impact on our health service, or about protecting our hospitals, anymore? I'm genuinely confused.
Covidworries · 04/01/2022 01:09

@summertimerolls

For completeness i will add that NHS england have stated that at least 71% of covid cases in hospital are directly because of covid.

BlockThatScrote · 04/01/2022 01:09

This graph shows covid hospitalisations are higher right now than than at any other point during pandemic.

But, as people have been saying all along, which is now finally being repeated by Fauci etc (during what appears to be the rats trying to scuttle off the sinking ship), the data is pointless because they could be in there for a broken leg or appendicitis. If 1 in 10/15(?) kids currently have it.....

summertimerolls · 04/01/2022 01:12

[quote Covidworries]@summertimerolls

For completeness i will add that NHS england have stated that at least 71% of covid cases in hospital are directly because of covid.[/quote]
And what's the percentage specific to children in that blanket 71% of all patients?

I'm genuinely not trying to needle - I don't know the answer to the question, and I just think it's important not to use partial facts for one side of an argument.

summertimerolls · 04/01/2022 01:14

@BlockThatScrote

This graph shows covid hospitalisations are higher right now than than at any other point during pandemic.

But, as people have been saying all along, which is now finally being repeated by Fauci etc (during what appears to be the rats trying to scuttle off the sinking ship), the data is pointless because they could be in there for a broken leg or appendicitis. If 1 in 10/15(?) kids currently have it.....

Yes exactly - it's so odd how they haven't yet managed to produce data on actual causes of death/hospitalisation rather than "within x days of a positive test". It seems such an inaccurate way of recording and doesn't give a true picture.
HTPri · 04/01/2022 01:17

‘Only in Reception’ is so insulting as a teacher. Its called the foundation stage for a reason as it lays the foundation of learning skills for future years. @bubblesaway

Ask the Year 1 and 2 teachers who are currently battling to make progress due to the disruption to their classes learning in previous years and then see if it is ‘only in Reception!’

Covidworries · 04/01/2022 01:24

@summertimerolls

Maybe a good question to put to NHS England for clarification.
As to my knowledge they are yet to breakdown the 71%figure to age specific and in the absense of that data i prefer to be cautious while waiting.

It is also worth noting that hospitalisation and illness that has occured so far would have been predominately lacking in CEV children due to the fact families with a CEV child recieved shielding letters early in the pandemic and have i imagine remained fairly cautious ever since. Because despite shielding ending the risk is still there.

Coupled with reports of families being asked about dnro being added to medical records make us wonder what care our children would recieve in a buckling hospital

LizzieAnt · 04/01/2022 01:43

@summertimerolls
@BlockThatScrote

I'm in Ireland, but our hospital admissions are very high at the moment too. This is what our Chief Medical Officer said a few days ago:

"Over 90 per cent of people in hospital and intensive care with Covid-19 are there for the management of Covid-19; less than 5 per cent of those in hospital or intensive care have ‘incidental’ (asymptomatic, non-infectious) disease."

I'm worried about sending mine back to achool too OP.

LizzieAnt · 04/01/2022 01:45

*school

gg12346 · 04/01/2022 02:09

Unless your child was put on shielding list ,I would definitely send them to school .Covid will never end , some variant or the other will come and school children are generally with milld symtoms .Keeping a child home does more harm to mental health since they need to play with others .But you are a parent and you have every right to decide .Its just my opinion.

Bringithome · 04/01/2022 02:18

[quote Covidworries]@summertimerolls

We have seen limited family who are also cautious. We have been on country walks.
We avoid shops. No other places.
We will continue to be cautious until such time as we no longer feel the need.
We have done both limited mixing and mixing at different times during pandemic depending on cases and risk at the time.

Looking at data at the moment which is still beingngathered we prefer to air on the side of caution[/quote]
Sounds like a fun life 🤦‍♂️

Covidworries · 04/01/2022 06:24

@bringithome

Said by someone with priviledge

Covidworries · 04/01/2022 06:45

@gg12346

The trouble with that through is our child was put on the shielding list but age 4 we were undiagnosed with a congential condition that meant child was vunerable so had the pandemic happened when they were 4 we wouldnt have known to shield as their condition was unknown.

Sometimes all we have is our gut feeling. My gut feeling as a parent was that something was wrong with my child but i was fobbed off over and over again until suddenly one time the doctor just knew there was a problem which was followed by emergency investigations, diagnosis and vital surgery.
So if a parent wants to keep their child home that is the parents choice as they are the ones dealing with the day to day care of the child and with any resulting additional work from having them home or any consequences of ignoring their gut

Twizbe · 04/01/2022 06:55

Nope! My son is the same age and he's going to school tomorrow.

He's already showing the damage from lockdown so there's no way I'm keeping him off school.

Covidworries · 04/01/2022 07:29

@twizbe

Even if school is just some random adult overseeing colouring in the hall?

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 04/01/2022 07:30

Are you mental

MrsLargeEmbodied · 04/01/2022 07:33

wont she be bored
will school let you?

i think you are giving in to fear

chaosrabbitland · 04/01/2022 07:36

unless a child is cev , its beyond my comprehension why a parent wouldnt send their child back to school this week

Waxonwaxoff0 · 04/01/2022 07:37

[quote Covidworries]@twizbe

Even if school is just some random adult overseeing colouring in the hall?[/quote]
Even if it's just colouring in the hall it's probably better for some children to be there surrounded by peers their own age than be at home ignored all day while parents work. Not everyone has job flexibility and not everyone has the time to dedicate to home educating.

Pootle40 · 04/01/2022 07:38

[quote LizzieAnt]@summertimerolls
@BlockThatScrote

I'm in Ireland, but our hospital admissions are very high at the moment too. This is what our Chief Medical Officer said a few days ago:

"Over 90 per cent of people in hospital and intensive care with Covid-19 are there for the management of Covid-19; less than 5 per cent of those in hospital or intensive care have ‘incidental’ (asymptomatic, non-infectious) disease."

I'm worried about sending mine back to achool too OP.[/quote]
That seems odd as in England the numbers being actually treated for Covid is much much lower.

herecomesthsun · 04/01/2022 07:41

I went to school aged 5 because that was how it worked back then.

No nursery education, no "play dates" (I think it wasn't a thing then). I was an only child and I spent lots of time with my mum (SAHM) and my grandmother.

I learned to read very early, way before I went to school. My parents read to me and got books out of the library for me.

I'm a bit baffled that people think that children won't learn to read or count unless they go to reception.

My own kids went to nursery etc., but it was us who taught them to count and read to them. My son in particular complained that he never seemed to learn anything new at school...

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 04/01/2022 07:45

This isn't a discussion about education or the nhs but the fear the daily mail , Facebook and the TV have whipped up , to what advantage I have no idea. But this is the attitude that will have us living in fear forever with no end to this pandemic .

greenteafiend · 04/01/2022 07:48

It's up to you, but what is the end game here? Covid is not going anywhere, as others have pointed out.

Excitedforthefuture · 04/01/2022 07:49

My thoughts?

That’s it is a very odd response

Swipe left for the next trending thread