covid / other illnesses going through schools

[K73c]

Hi - I know it is that time of year where all the bugs are making the rounds especially in schools but I wondering how much this autumn is covid? I had it August (before the surge) & extremely fatigued still. Teen daughter ill but neg covid (odd range symptoms). Hearing from family who are teachers that a lot of staff and kids are off; i just sense in the media it's being hushed and the gov def going to play it down. But the long covid thing is a real thing and just wondered how bad it is at the mo around the country. I'm in Hampshire.

Myself (work in school) and DS, who goes to college, both had it this month.

We will normalise the kids get ill- it's good for their immune systems bollocks even further this year. We can normalise all the cognitive and behavioural issues that can stem from a covid infection onto the other heap of things (poor funding, long wait lists, loss of learning, long covid/living with family members with long covid) we expect kids, teachers and their families to accept.

What should we do though? Live with permanent restrictions?

@Goingsomewhere if only the government would acknowledge there is an issue with covid that causes health issues, and admit ventilation and air quality in public buildings needs improving it would help. We can all help to raise this issue and talk about it with our MPs, schools and help to raise awareness. Hepa filtration and ventilation of buildings will help minimise the spread of airborne viruses.

It's rife here, we are currently running at 10% absence with confirmed covid and probably another 3-4 % with suspected amongst the children and a similar percentage amongst staff, perhaps a little higher

It's rife here, we are currently running at 10% absence with confirmed covid and probably another 3-4 % with suspected amongst the children and a similar percentage amongst staff, perhaps a little higher

This, absolutely.

We're not likely to get anything that would help from the government that doesn't care if our kids have crumbling concrete over their heads.

I do wonder if lack of political will from govt and associations such as UKHSA, DfE, children's commissioner etc are because they actually want it to keep going through schools etc? To boost 'immunity' in population, whilst overlooking covid's impact on immune system and the large number of people getting absolutely screwed long term? It's almost comical when they talk about absence without mentioning prime reason which is illness. Mention safety or education as objectives, but won't say how the 'c' word flies in the face of both.

Covid's "just a cold" now isn't it?

Surely you remember how colds have always led to flights being cancelled at Gatwick due to staff sickness and kids having to be educated 100 kids at a time in the hall because of staff sickness.
Or classes going online two days a week.

Infection is cheaper than jabs if you are an economically illiterate government

@verdantverdure sadly, I have to agree, currently they don't seem to care. However, if the impact on covid continues to effect so many, the current work force will be off with long term health issues caused by covid. We are setting up a situation whereby its seen to be ok to allow repeated infections within the population. There's only so long this narrative can be peddled, and believed, before it becomes apparent that there is an issue with long term sickness and staff absenteeism. The impact on the health service will be huge in the future.

Interesting that houses of Parliament and private schools all have attended to air quality in their buildings, to mitigate risks of spreading airborne viruses.

Its about time that the issue is acknowledged by the mainstream media, and the general population start to soeak out and demand the right to the same protection that those in power and wealth have access too.

Theres too much talk about restrictions... Why not precautions/mitigations? We know covid is here to stay, it's about time we started protecting the health of the general public, especially our children.

Sorry, I shall put my soap box away now!!

Kids are really poorly at my school. Some testing positive, some not (but all in the same boarding houses, and with the same symptoms 🤷‍♀️) My own children's school have had to shut two classes because of staff absence.

@Robinonaspade just so you know, at my (very minor) public school, we don't have any sort of air monitoring or purifying system. In fact, half the windows don't even open!

@BandicootCrash Poor kids being so unwell and away from home. It must be so hard for you looking after them in loco parentis. Are their parents aware how poorly they are and do many come to take them home to recuperate?

our part of South Wales seems to be ticking along with nothing more than ordinary return to school illness levels. I think the good weather is helping.

@BandicootCrash 🤦‍♂️My big feet! Didn't mean to upset anyone. I'd been reading about elite schools in England and made me frustrated that likes of Eton etc where money has been invested to keep the air clean. It frustrates me that all children should be able to access education and breathe in the cleanest air possible... Especially since my childs school have the same issues with windows as yours by the sound of it! The head didn't want to know when I met to discuss air ventilation in classrooms, after sending a snotty letter to parents re attendance.... Most kids had covid!

Apologies once again.

Got Covid here now so have lots in our village in Hampshire same time as last year when the kids go back to school and it’s a little chillier. This is our third time at of getting covid and have to say it’s much milder this time.

25% of my class off today and sent home 2 poorly ones with temperatures, nausea and cold symptoms as they felt so rotten. As far as I know not confirmed Covid but it probably is.

3 out of my 4 children have had it last week (2 are school age). Seems to be quite a few cases in the school at the moment

@Robinonaspade I love your soapbox. Totally agree.

At this moment more people I know have COVId than dont have it! Hopefully it means that all be over by xmas!

www.purifiedair.com/case-studies/hm-government/

I wouldn’t know if my kids have it as I won’t be testing them. Time to treat it like anything else now. The only reason for restrictions in schools was the same as elsewhere to stop the NHS getting swamped and now it’s been through the population and people have been vaccinated that risk is vastly reduced. It was never to stop people getting so called “long Covid” or infected at all.

We are setting up a situation whereby its seen to be ok to allow repeated infections within the population

well of course it’s OK - there isn’t anything that can be done to stop it. It is what it is:

@TooOldForThisNonsense Its not ok to let it circulate and erode the health of our population. Covid is not just a cold. It has the potential to damage multiple systems in the body, which in turn can change lives dramatically.

I find it hard to understand why we are willingly exposing our children, and ourselves, to a potential life changing virus whilst not taking minor adjustments to improve the environment in which they and we spend a lot of time in.

The notion that nothing can be done is completely wrong.