Scottish schools opening

[chocciechocface]

I was ready for schools opening, but this new research has given me pause for thought. I think this came out after Sturgeon's decision. What do you all think?

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/07/31/georgia-children-covid-outbreak/#click=t.co/Y9gSG9zENz

Quote from the article:

"A new report suggests that children of all ages are susceptible to coronavirus infection and may also spread it to others — a finding likely to intensify an already fraught discussion about the risks of sending children back to school this fall.

The analysis, released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, details an outbreak at a sleep-away camp in Georgia last month in which 260 children and staffers — more than three-quarters of the 344 tested — contracted the virus less than a week after spending time together in close quarters. The children had a median age of 12. The camp had required all 597 campers and staff members to provide documentation that they had tested negative for the virus before coming. Staff were required to wear masks, but children were not."

Has anyone been issued the plans from child’s school with regards to what happens if/when kids or teacher are tested as positive?

Full class into isolation/tested? How many kids in a class before action is taken etc?

The last update from here was they were awaiting guidance from government but that was a week ago and haven’t had an update since

I work in a school and I genuinely don't remember if anything was said. I know that they requested staff to fully follow track and trace if contacted and to isolate the moment you or a member of your household show symptoms. I know if we suspect Covid in a pupil or staff member to get them to the isolation room ASAP.

I'll have to check back my notes.

Tbh so much info has been given and then constant changes and tweaks being made since the pupils came back that my head is combusting right now with info.

If a pupil has Covid, how do they manage the conflict between GDPR and track and trace?
At breaks, entire year groups are mixing in our school. Are they expecting the pupil with Covid to remember who they chatted to every day? or will they let the year know who has been diagnosed with Covid and then rely on all the DCs to remember who chatted to them, played sports with them etc.

@BottomOfMyPencilCase that's what I was saying about a close contact - it is only close contacts that need to self isolate after someone they've been in contact with tests positive. A close contact is defined as spending 15 minutes or more at a distance of less than 2m. So chatting to briefly or playing sports with probably wouldn't count?

In some of our sports activities, they probably are less than 2m away for more than 15 minutes. Plus, at lunch, they're sitting with each other for more than 15 minutes and aren't separated by class.I can't help but think that actually adhering to bubbles for lunch, breaks and sports would have been beneficial.

It would be Public Health Scotland who would speak to the adult or student who has tested positive and through discussion with them and the school, decide who needs contacted for testing.

Have you seen the video posted on another thread ? Dr James Hildreth from US stating why it is not safe the open schools. It is a very worrying watch.

@Molofololo

Have you seen the video posted on another thread ? Dr James Hildreth from US stating why it is not safe the open schools. It is a very worrying watch.

What has the US, with masses more cases than here, got to do with opening schools here?

So what’s the answer then? Keep schools closed forever?

Em, no I didn’t say let’s keep schools closed forever. Just apply more safety measures for a start.

Is that the one talking about finding the virus in the air in hospital rooms?
I don't think the virus itself cares whether we are in America or Scotland.
The message from that seemed to be - masks, and I will be wearing mine from tomorrow on.

Yes that’s the one. They found virus particles in the air up to 27ft away from the patient. So a 6ft distance is a false sense of security indoors.

I'm really worried about school tomorrow Got to get on with it but I am anxious.

It will be fine. Even if you get the virus the huge huge majority of people will be ok.

There’s now pupils tested positive at 3 high schools in North Lanarkshire. Apparently the source is not school but not socially distancing in the community (don’t know if this is true??)

I wonder how many pupils will be absent from these schools tomorrow?

Sounds like they socialised outside of the schools. I've certainly seen plenty of it on my fb in the last few days.

@Molofololo

Em, no I didn’t say let’s keep schools closed forever. Just apply more safety measures for a start.

Such as social distancing? Which apparently now doesn’t work according to that video? Or masks? Which until a few weeks ago we were told didn’t do any good, but all of a sudden they are sooooooo crucial.

Such as social distancing? Which apparently now doesn’t work according to that video? Or masks? Which until a few weeks ago we were told didn’t do any good, but all of a sudden they are sooooooo crucial.

What's the alternative? Do you think we should do nothing and just write off all the vulnerable people in our community?

And this: "Which until a few weeks ago we were told didn’t do any good, but all of a sudden they are sooooooo crucial."

Science evolves. Knowledge builds on knowledge as time passes. The lack of understanding about how science works is so frustrating.

@chocciechocface, I know that one only can do one's best, but you have to admit, these "measures" go in and out of fashion quicker than anything else.
I think for one's sanity the best thing one can do is stay well clear of "informative" YT videos and such like (and that includes the daily party political broadcast) and wait for things to evolve. Otherwise one goes mad.

"Measures" . What do the quote marks mean? That the efforts are fake? Sarcasm? Are you sneering?

Scientists are trying to grapple with a virus that is months old. They are starting from ground zero. Research is literally focussed on trying to save the world by prioritising research in vaccines, testing, treatments etc. They are working around the clock, exhausted and under enormous pressure. So yes, advice is going to be tweaked and changed as knowledge evolves. 🤷‍♀️

But, people who get their science degrees from Mark Zuckerberg's University of Facebook know everything beyond doubt. And they carp and moan and sneer from the sidelines.

If you take several steps back and think about it, doesn't that strike you as rather juvenile behaviour?

If your sanity is literally compromised from having to adjust to changing advice, then maybe it isn't YouTube you need to avoid, but instead visit your GP.

@chocciechocface, the "measures" I was referring to are the ones from the YT video mentioned. If you have to keep track of everything that is being said, assumed, hypothesised, inferred and invented you will go mad.
Personally I just wait to be told what the latest fashion I must abide by is, and try to ignore all the rest the best I can.

No I certainly don’t think we should do nothing. I have never thought that. I am complying with all measures and am happy to continue to do so.

But if he’s saying social distancing doesn’t work then why are we doing it? Personally it seems to me that it does work which is why we haven’t seen massive spikes or a second wave since we opened things up with SD. So it either works so we keep doing it, or it doesn’t and we are trashing our society and economy for something that doesn’t work anyway. What would be the point in the latter?

As for masks, we’ve known since the beginning it was a disease spread by respiratory droplets. I just find it very odd that in the matter of a couple of weeks they have gone from being completely useless to the only thing that will bring the virus under control. It’s a very big u turn within a very short space of time. I wear a mask (and did so before they were obligatory), I SD, I follow all the rules on gatherings etc. Despite that and no matter what you say it is actually allowed to be frustrated by the mixed messaging and ever changing “measures”.

It’s a very big u turn within a very short space of time
The science hasn't u-turned.The Government advice has and that's because the Govt is balancing competing priorities.

I agree about not watching everything on the internet or Youtube. There are too many conflicting sources. Our Governments are adding to the confusion - Holyrood and Westminster - because their advice isn't consistent.

But if you look at the advice from the WHO (which again hasn't been ideal but is responding to a developing situation); read peer-reviewed research from scientists; then you can start to see that there have been some consistent findings regarding masks, etc. If you read the research from the King's College app then you can see details about symptoms, illness progression and local rates.

From the past few days, it seems that the Scottish Govt approach is going to be to blame socialising outwith schools for spikes or clusters. I think their entire approach has been short-sighted and we're going to end up with schools closed again by next month. And I'm frustrated because I do think if they had planned and risk assessed better then our DCs could have had a more consistent education without putting themselves, their families, their teachers, the school staff and the vulnerable at risk. This rush to open won't have achieved anything ... unless it's purpose is to encourage the public to support online learning.

Wish there was some online learning for dd as she is in S6 and her advanced highers were supposed to be done at other schools which they will not want to happen just now. There has been nothing put in place instead so at the moment she has nothing to do. I've brought her home rather than have her sit in school doing nothing all day

The science hasn't u-turned.The Government advice has and that's because the Govt is balancing competing priorities.

This exactly.