Could people please sign and share this petition to improve test and trace so that we can suppress the virus please? SAGE scientists dont think the vaccine will be enough on its own because of high transmission leading to mutations v quickly.. and also because of vaccine escape. Also some detail from the Zero Covid campaign below about mitigation measures that could be introduced in schools to make them much safer!
www.actionnetwork.org/petitions/test-and-trace
The government could introduce mitigation measures such as increased distancing (through the use of under-used buildings), enhanced ventilation and the reintroduction of masks. The enhanced ventilation would need to be introduced over the summer holidays and schools would need extra funding, and perhaps logistical support, for it. As Covid-19 is an airborne disease, good ventilation is essential to hindering its spread. Independent SAGE have been recommending such measures since the pandemic started. You can read the relevant report here:www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Schools-Jan-2021-final.pdf
This paragraph summarises their recommendations:
“Making schools safer: We have already addressed this issue in some detail in our November report, and so do not need to repeat it here. The crux of the issue is the need to implement the basic mitigation measures in the school environment: spatial distancing, good ventilation, masks (we support the use of masks in classrooms for secondary school students –as already occurs in Scotland–with exceptions for those who cannot wear them and with free provision so that all students have access to good quality protection), and hygiene measures.”
The World Heath Organization recommends something similar. See this report:www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240017467