October Becomes November Lockdown

[BlueThursday]

New thread

I suspect this will be the second of many

I came on to say about the face masks too. UFT will be in uproar although I wouldn't be too keen either. Fortunately DD is in a younger year group.
Next step will be face masks in offices. Fuck that. I'm exempt and also cannot lip read through masks. Multiple disabilities. I'm just waiting on Nippy doing that next
Just close the fucking pubs and keep as many businesses as possible working from home if they can. If senior year groups are at that much risk then go back to blended learning too.

I've just tuned in. Where is Nicola? Is she having a day off?

Where's Nicola the day?

Most won't though, being realistic. I know my masks feel fairly damp after about 30 minutes - you'd want a fresh one each lesson really. How many teens will actually do that? I'm not opposed to masks in general but I seem to recall when I looked at it before (we started wearing coverings before it became required) that there was a concern that bad mask wearing was worse than no mask wearing. I'm pretty certain wearing damp/for too long was one of the issues, along with touching face etc. I almost always lean my face on my hand when I'm thinking about what to write, I'd be doing it constantly in school!

(Waves to @36weekswithno2 )

I thought it wasn't transmitted in schools? Only after 6pm with a pint when you've crossed into another LA?

@throwingawaymyshot that sucks - would your employer consider providing masks with clear panels? Might also depend on how crowded your office is - I can see the argument for them in full classrooms but not a socially-distanced office.

@Justmuddlingalong

Where's Nicola the day?

🤷🏼‍♀️ finally taken a day off. I don't think much of her replacement

Hi @OOAOML I've tried clear face masks, but they steam up so I still can't lip read. I also cannot wear visors due to my cochlear implants (rub against them).
They say we can take them off if you stand 2m away but standing further away makes it harder to hear and I am also partially sighted!
Plus they will only consider them for my immediate team - so what about the security guard, the receptionist, joe bloggs from marketing I might see in the lift or the kitchen and wants a wee chat?
Then there's the fact that my employer also says lifts are now "only for wheelchair users" - I have balance problems in addition to what feels like 100 other disabilities and conditions but none of them are visible so in their eyes I'll be just fiiiiiine.
Even my bloody union are annoying me "we need a covid secure workplace" - aye, covid secure if you are no disabled.
#rant over
who is doing the briefing today then

Fair play if it is a day off.
Info on fire in Covid ITU ward at Hairmyres hospital last night. Scary stuff. twitter.com/wearehairmyres/status/1322155710554189826?s=09

Has your employer said why people have to be in the office when wfh where possible is still in place? Our office has hardly anyone in and it would be a nightmare to make Covid secure as it has so many narrow walkways, loads of people use the lifts and none of the windows open there’s a fancy system blowing air round.

We are WFH atm but they are phasing us back under these rules of wearing a face mask everywhere, social distancing, restricted access to lifts, kitchens closed, oh and they are installing screens (not clear perspex) around each desk (like in America) so even more obstructions to lip reading and even seeing your colleagues. One way systems will be permanent too. Cannot do that. It is honestly a nightmare. And then you have the commuting problems as I'm not allowed to drive!

Do you want to be back in and would they do a risk assessment for you? I'm assuming they have a legal responsibility to make reasonable adjustments and what you describe doesn't seem remotely reasonable.

John Swinney delivered the anti-guising message today, think that’s why Nicola had a day off, it was appropriately suited to his tone of delivery... plus, it’s always better to have someone else be bad cop, right? Jason with the Christmas message, John with halloween, there’s a comms pattern developing here 🤷‍♀️

wtaf?

"Parents are also being asked to cover their face even if they do not enter the school building, such as when they are picking up or dropping off pupils."

What? even in our own cars? with our own weans? Is he nuts??

@OOAOML I am pushing very firmly to keep working from home for as long as these rules are in place, regardless of what my colleagues are doing. I am citing reasonable adjustment, HSAW act, flexible working etc. We will see. But it is stressful. Bloody public sector for you

@throwingawaymyshot

wtaf?

"Parents are also being asked to cover their face even if they do not enter the school building, such as when they are picking up or dropping off pupils."

What? even in our own cars? with our own weans? Is he nuts??

Just spotted this, they managed to slip that one in under the noise of upper high pupils wearing masks in class.

I won’t be wearing a mask for school pick up. We’re not allowed in the playground anyway and don’t hang around after I’ve met my child outside the school gate, where I’m standing more than 2m away from others. Good luck to any fellow parent who wants to appoint themselves as police to enforce this ridiculous suggestion🤪

FFS - masks outside in school grounds. What the absolute fuck? No evidence this will do any good. Ultimate virtue signalling.

I'm assuming it's not if you're in your car but might be to deter getting close as one of the local primaries had to put out a plea to parents to stop crowding together.

That’s probably why she’s taken the day off! Blame it on swinney. What a pile of pish. This isn’t going to help? I’m miles away from other parents at drop off. No scientific evidence to back it up... AGAIN. They can’t keep applying restrictions without giving the reasoning. I’m just not bothering with any of it. Think I will stop reading the news now, at least then I can plead ignorance 😂

I tuned in briefly to see what shite was on offer at today's briefing, heard JL so turned over before I threw something at the telly.

There appears to be a tier 1.5 that I am in. Tier 1 was meant to include going into others' homes but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I am heartily sick of this goalpost changing and make up rules as and when the whim takes them,

All the decisions now are political and NS and the SNP have lost all credibility IMO.

kind of wish I hadn't left the UFT group cause I'm wondering what their reaction to this is!

But people have made the point since the beginning that a great proportion of High School DC aren't "children". Some of them are older than the students that are being lambasted for daring to live in the accommodation they were conned into paying for on the promise of face to face classes.

@throwingawaymyshot

kind of wish I hadn't left the UFT group cause I'm wondering what their reaction to this is!

I unfollowed them but can still see their page. The news re masks is not going down well!!