The Thirty-seventh Republic - Mass testing rolls on - school staff remain expendable

[SantaAssociationRepresentitve]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders, and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Do not give the staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

And been looking at several articles from when Boris announced Operation Moonshot. Eg
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/11/uk-health-screening-advisers-not-involved-in-moonshot-covid-plan-mass-testing-coronavirus

They did say at the time that teachers and students would be being tested by new year, this has been brewing for a while.

Also, what happened to the longer term schools testing, remember that - a few schools were involved. Don't think that was the LFT pilot but maybe it was.

And the saliva tests, trialled around Southampton?

Might actually go to bed now.... praying for all battling in whatever way - on a Covid ward - be it patient or staff, at home with anxiety, stress and responsibility, and those fighting for truth and justice.

Glad you remain Mrs HerculePoirot then!

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.

2020 hasnt even been the worst year of my life so I don't know why I'm so maudlin tonight. I'm happy for everyone who does feel positive or has had a happy night (or is still married )

No I think we all understand your sentiment jingling. Hundreds will lose their lives tonight, again.

@Jinglingmod

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.

2020 hasnt even been the worst year of my life so I don't know why I'm so maudlin tonight. I'm happy for everyone who does feel positive or has had a happy night (or is still married )

Thanks 🤣

Think I’m also just trying to put a positive spin on it - I mean I’ve cried loads today just because really. Totally get what you mean btw. It’s not like a weird parallel reality isn’t it, and we’ll all be back to reality in a few days.

Wishing you all a safe and healthy 2021, everyone.

Happy new year everyone. I woke up bang on 3am strangely. About to give up and go take the dog out and make a coffee. Unless i can drop back off after posting.

Good research december. had lost track of various highly boasted of then silently dropped plans and schemes. So lft was moon shit as expected. Not much point having rapid testing if it's unfit for purpose.

I don't think I've ever seen so much spin and outright lies delivered so blatantly and shamelessly. Presumably banking on the fact that enough people will believe it as press aren't challenging it.

In Egypt it's quite dangerous to be an honest or just balanced journalist. Anything vaguely anti government policy for example is seen as threatening national security and can see you thrown in jail. I wonder if the coronavirus laws have been misused so as to not just stop platforms promoting anti vaccine or hoax cure narratives but perhaps restricting the questioning of national eg, government policy.

I can't account for the failures of the press other than to think there is some form of restriction as paranoid as that sounds. hard to believe good investigative and status quo challenging journalism has just ceased to exist.

Happy New Year All!

And many hugs and 🌺 for all. Perhaps a strong coffee too today.

December, yes that guardian article was one of the articles I remember doubting LFT. The numbers thread at the time were pretty dismissive and almost insinuated it was conspiracy level stuff - except that some local news reports backed it up with a local director of PHE's views.

Mrs H my Dh and I were on v rocky ground, as was my health; lockdown did give us time and space to breathe and worth through some things. And gave me time to rest and recuperate. So as horrid as 2020 has been I also think it saved us.

Ha oh well scrap that, my areas have been chosen for community testing... still it's not the same as how they're proposed to be used in schools.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/7-north-east-areas-rapid-19509641

We've been a rapid test area since mid Dec and it's barely been used! They were hoping to target over 60s but none of them want to risk going to the centre.

Yes, looking through historical articles prof Milne has been clear that they are only effective if done properly by hpcs so they're being used to target specific communities at risk. A Newcastle 6th form was piloting it too.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/rapid-covid-test-plans-revealed-19455863

@Hercwasonasnowball

We've been a rapid test area since mid Dec and it's barely been used! They were hoping to target over 60s but none of them want to risk going to the centre.

Don't blame them!

Dropped by a non teacher on the numbers thread, with understandable concerns re kids:

twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1344774555718590464?s=21

Good morning! It’s snowed a bit here overnight so I’m going for a crispy walk soon.

That’s a bit worrying, Neuro. It’s the spike deletion that makes it more difficult to pick up with a test, isn’t it? I have wondered about all the ‘colds’ that came back negative earlier in Dec.

Hope everyone has a better year this year. For anyone that is stressed or ill or otherwise in need.

Need to head over to the weight loss section really as I've put on over a stone last half term and already had a couple spare. Not sure I am brave enough to venture into MN proper though.

HNY. Our HT has confirmed that we won't be using the lateral flow tests as an alterntive to isolation, so the 10 day rule still applies for close contacts. Public health locally have confirmed that daily lateral flow only works where strict social distancing etc is observed - so clearly not in school.

Wishing you all a better year. Thank you all for the solidarity during 2020 - you lot are ace!

@NeurotreeWenceslas

Dropped by a non teacher on the numbers thread, with understandable concerns re kids:

twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1344774555718590464?s=21

The Department for Education are being reckless and dishonest here.

Sensible climey

Morning all! Happy New Year

Well, what to do today eh? I need to get DH up to speed on Teams (family cpd whoop whoop!) ably assisted with Mrs H's wonderful guide. I wrote 2 PowerPoints yesterday. Most of Christmas food now gone so really need to crack on with focusing on diet again. Will pop over to older DS's to pick up laptop ('for education purposes' so it's allowed.. really miss seeing older DS properly). Go for a walk later.

Getting scared about 18th January now but hoping they will extend remote learning as my school is in one of the CF areas.

Flipping heck...the new variant had an R of 1.45 DURING lockdown.

@NeurotreeWenceslas

Dropped by a non teacher on the numbers thread, with understandable concerns re kids:

twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1344774555718590464?s=21

Really worrying the impact on children. Trying to be positive but finding it really hard.

Sorry- Happy new year everyone!

@CountDuckulasCranberrySauce

Hope everyone has a better year this year. For anyone that is stressed or ill or otherwise in need.

Need to head over to the weight loss section really as I've put on over a stone last half term and already had a couple spare. Not sure I am brave enough to venture into MN proper though.

The weight loss section is pretty safe and supportive, you'll be ok over there. Don't venture into aibu or the CV boards though, they stress me out.