Kids, covid, Scotland

[JollyHolyMoly]

Disclaimer: I am in a mad state about the recent news re kids being more affected by the new strain / full wards in hospitals:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/01/covid-wards-full-children-first-time-pandemic-warn-nurses/

I know this is England and the government hasn't bothered to comment yet but do we think Nicola will address this? Normally I'm rational, I don't feel like that anymore. My kids are meant to go into nursery on Monday. I don't know what to do for the best anymore. I don't know who or what to believe. Sorry, I'm probably hysterical. Slap me.

My friend is a nurse in the QEU in the children's ward and this doesn't appear to be the case.

We didn't have any cases in nursery until a child had to isolate after their sibling tested positive. We so far aren't aware of any cases in our nursery children but a lot were off the last 2 weeks compared to usual.

I've heard of children getting it but it seems to be this new strain flooring children.

As nurseries are now closed to only vulnerable and critical workers, there will be a lot less staff and children in.

Can't see the article, not a telegraph subscriber and doesn't appear to be reported elsewhere yet.

Don't think we're getting full stats released until 5th January. Our schools aren't returning until the 18th unless they have keyworker parents

Not heard anything like this on the news or reported

This is the Twitter thread the telegraph has drawn on: mobile.twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1345006866829463552

Also worth remembering that children's hospitals would always have an influx of patients with respiratory issues at this time of year and 'full wards' could be 8 beds. Try not to panic too much

Good news @ooohnooo . Other threads discussing this appear to have been taken down...maybe there is a concern that it is just not substantiated well enough yet

In Lothian kids have been admitted in small numbers, but none needed ICU and none have passed away (since Aug) of the virus. I guess with any respiratory virus there will be a proportion of children who need hospital care. My son has been hospitalised with viruses and the effect they have had on his asthma. My friends child was in hospital for a week due to chicken pox. It’s really sad and worrying, but so far for Covid children have done better generally x

@Groovee

We didn't have any cases in nursery until a child had to isolate after their sibling tested positive. We so far aren't aware of any cases in our nursery children but a lot were off the last 2 weeks compared to usual.

I've heard of children getting it but it seems to be this new strain flooring children.

As nurseries are now closed to only vulnerable and critical workers, there will be a lot less staff and children in.

Its a new strain.

We didnt have many cases in school Aug -Nov and then on the last run up to xmas we did!

This shows that 13 children/young people (up to age 19 so slightly outwith the child category) have been hospitalised in the last week who have tested positive for covid. Keep in mind that hospitals do not record numbers who have been admitted due to covid as opposed to those who have been admitted with another issue, been tested as part of the admission process, and have tested positive.

@Fortherosesjoni70 if you read my full post I do say "it seems to be this new strain flooring children!"

I personally think that we need to remember what we handle every year (and every day for some families) in terms of our children’s health. It’s easy to forget with the alarmist headlines that it will actually present as cold/virus style symptoms at best in the majority of children. They can recover at home, but some families won’t have that option and for them life is difficult and challenging every day. I’ve been by a hospital bed with my DC in the past, it’s a hideous experience that you do anything not to repeat. Last winter and the seasons before, sitting up overnight when they can’t breathe well due to a hideous virus. Like a PP I also know of a child who ended up in ICU with what we all assumed was just the chicken pox, when most of us only need to feed our children ice cream and soothe any itching.

I absolutely understand the fear, but we all have to remind ourselves of the realities of life worries with children.

The travelling tabby website has not got up to date case age data yet as the Scottish government isn't giving full info until the 5th January. Its only giving case and % positivity rates for a few days so we won't have fuller info until then

That's very sensible @Bytheloch - I don't mind admitting that I am being swept up in a kind of hysteria! I think it comes from all the chopping and changing, all the uncertainty re knowledge etc. And a sense of constantly being braced for more bad news. It's a vicious circle isn't it because it doesn't put people in the best position to be calm and rational when there's any new information. It's also reported in quite alarmist ways. A perfect storm.

[quote Groovee]@Fortherosesjoni70 if you read my full post I do say "it seems to be this new strain flooring children!" [/quote]
👍

Is it flooring them or are they just getting it at a faster rate they would with the old strain? The cases are not as spread out as they would be but that doesn't mean they are getting worse symptoms than they would have in the first place.

I'm not sure @dementedpixie - I guess there's not enough information. The panic has been started by the matron on 5 live who claimed she has a ward full of kids which wasn't the case in the first wave. As a result of what she said I think we need some clarification and proper info coming from somewhere but, as you say, maybe that will come from the 5th

Schools won’t be reopening before the 18th. Home learning will be in place from the 11th until the 18th.
I can’t see them implementing home learning for 5 days! It’ll be way longer (hopefully).

Yes I think so too, I never believed the 18th January thing! I'd also like to know what "children" means - are we seeing more cases in over 10s? Over 5s? If primary schools shut what about nurseries? I'd feel less anxious if there was clear guidance for parents or if the decision was made for us really

Home learning is shit tbh. Dd has had home learning for one of her advanced higher classes and its terrible. Ds is only 3rd year so at least isn't in an exam year.

Think their secondary school has had about a dozen cases in total and only 2 were in December

Have nurseries not got to close as well?

What's worrying me is the number rof parents putting their kids into nursery and schools this coming week and next because they " don't want them to miss socialising" my local region doesn't seem o have strict criteria for this.
One family the mum is a stay at home mum but has a place.. Another has her own nail business working from home.. Obviously not just now but has a place
I don't understand

No, not necessarily. Not yet anyway. Ours is open. There are some conditions re parents work but it's up to the provider to interpret the govt advice as they see fit