Here come those tiers again.

[Cismyfatarse]

New Fred.

@MissEliza well today was less stressful than a usual day for sure

Re noise about SD in winter, I wonder if they are more worried about Covid in kids than they are letting on.
They've only just started trials with the vaccine in children 6-17 so maybe thinking it could be another year before its approved and rolled out.

I imagine it will be beyond that before it can be added to the baby vaccine program.

I might be doing 2+2=5 just trying to workout what they are thinking.

I think it's all so new and unexplored they are trying to cover all bases really

Yes I definitely think they're more worried about something than they're letting on @Lockdownbear - if it is the kids there may be a bit of bad news tomorrow.

I think they know there will be mutant strains out there totally resistant to the vaccine models we have and potentially much more deadly, that could wipe out millions. There must be the possibility of that, scientists will have studied what can happen and will predict what could happen. So they are being extra cautious. Except for keeping the borders open this long....but that's another thread.

Anyway, I think they are just trying to be safe.

I think they know there will be mutant strains out there totally resistant to the vaccine models we have and potentially much more deadly, that could wipe out millions

To set your mind at rest, this is really incredibly unlikely. I really don't think anyone knows any such thing, they just got a bit bitten on the arse by the second wave due to a somewhat more contagious variant and are being very cautious now.

I also mentioned that within a year we'll have a vaccine that works against all variants as it attacks the core viral structure not the spike protein, which is what mutates to avoid detection by the immune system.

I agree that they are erring on the side of caution. I am relatively happy with a slowly but surely approach. I don't think I can go through another winter of not seeing anyone. I'm so tired of being alone.

I've been thinking for a few weeks that there's maybe something else going on. They must know that it's soon going to be impossible to do all the assessments the SQA are looking for in time. And yet.

ssd 🤭 really. I think you have let your imagination run wild now.

That's good to know Max

@icanboogieboogiewoogie 100% this

Even if we have April and May and a bit of June that's still very tight considering the amount of teaching still needed. Throw in a couple of outbreaks in a school and we're up shit creek.

That's good to know Max

I know you're very anxious about covid. But I honestly think you'll be safe once you get your jags and then as I said there's the tweaked boosters in the pipeline for autumn and the new one next year. So just a little while longer!

@ssd I sympathise with you as I have seen you mention health anxiety. I've had that before and it's very easy to worry about these things. My mind wanders there occasionally I'm not going to lie. I do think/ hope this should do just as the other coronaviruses we have did and mellow out over the years to a cold. I think the majority of evidence suggests that so try not to worry. Easier said than done I know!

Thanks Max.

Icanboogie - SG probably don't give a toss about the SQA assessments. And it's the teachers / schools problem not SGs.

I don't think there's anything else going on. I think they're just trying really hard to get it right this time so there's not a 3rd round of school closures and they don't have to backtrack. Imagine the outcry if they had to go back again. It's hideous for the senior phase kids right now, I feel for them. They are being sacrificed for the collective good and it's rotten for them.

Dh is in medical research and was talking about the spike protein and core structure thing @MaxNormal was talking about. He's not in a panic about viral escape or whatever you call it, he's pretty chilled about it. So I'm taking my lead from him.

I appreciate the advice here

I think they discovered that teenagers get and transmit the new variant at same level as adults. That's going to mean social distancing in secondary schools and they don't really know how they're going to do that And nor do I

A cover up on the scale required to hide anything major about the virus presupposes competency. I think we're all safe there.

@Sootess

I think they discovered that teenagers get and transmit the new variant at same level as adults. That's going to mean social distancing in secondary schools and they don't really know how they're going to do that And nor do I

Not once the vulnerable vaccinated

@Lockdownbear

Thanks Max.

Icanboogie - SG probably don't give a toss about the SQA assessments. And it's the teachers / schools problem not SGs.

So why do they have s4-6 going back in small numbers to complete practical assessments? 🤷‍♀️

I'm not meaning social distancing long term, just March /April.
They need to get senior years back ASAP so teachers can do the assessments for sqa qualifications. Lots of schools haven't even done their prelims yet!!

@Waverless

Icanboogie - I hope they do get back, but I've 0 faith in SG making it a priority. The S4-6 practical return has yet to be confirmed. Just the same as nursery and P1-3 have yet to be confirmed.

I missed the briefing last week but there was mumbling on here that it wasn't sounding positive or confident that the kids were getting back.

Feeling confident about kids going back next week. Really hope exam years get back, they are a real priority.