I Have Something to Say

I can foresee another COVID-19 outbreak in September when parents are forced to send their children back to school. With the threat of fines for keeping children off school, it's likely that impoverished parents will send their children to school even if they show symptoms of COVID-19. Overcrowded schools do not have the space to even allow for social distancing, even at just 1 metre, never mind enforcing it. I doubt they'll have the facilities to implement other precautions either. It's a recipe for disaster.

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SW-User

I'm much more concerned about the number of rapid changes in a few weeks ie non essential shops reopening, hospitality this weekend etc

In these situations people from different households will be routinely in close proximity to others from outside their household and all the surfaces touched etc just scream virus transmission to me. It is the most likely way it'll spread and airborne droplets.

Sending the kids to school in a limited bubble where personal hygiene and room cleaning can be routinely enforced is to me far far safer. I can't understand why schools aren't already reopening actually given the other restrictions being lifted.

helenS · 36-40, F

@SW-User "It's the economy, stupid." (James Carville, a strategist in Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign)

SW-User

@helenS but scientifically bollocks (Nunos50 June 2020)

Sharon · F

@SW-User

In these situations people from different households will be routinely in close proximity to others from outside their household and all the surfaces touched etc just scream virus transmission to me. It is the most likely way it'll spread and airborne droplets.

Isn't that exactly what will happen in schools?

Sending the kids to school in a limited bubble where personal hygiene and room cleaning can be routinely enforced is to me far far safer.

I'm not sure schools can be trusted to stick to the rules, especially if they're just "guidance". In my experience, schools seem to like to pick and choose which rules they want to obey.

SW-User

@Sharon trust me my wife works in a school she and the other staff are routinely challenging management over the best interpretation of the guidance.

By the way all shops etc reopening are only to guidance I trust a teacher who is invested in a puplis welfare over a commercial company just wanting my money in their tills.

Regards the mixing yes but you know who they are and they are mixing in a small group. If you get a positive test the entire bubble can be instantly told.

How can you trace the people you were close to in the greeting card shop etc? You can't so asymptomatic people infect more people etc. SARS-CoV-2 has a "natural" Ro about 3 it appears. So that's a big spread whereas at school a trace track isolate can isolate all necessary very quickly and efficiently as the school has all contacts instantly available.

Caroline259 · 56-60, F

@SW-User

I trust a teacher who is invested in a puplis welfare over a commercial company just wanting my money in their tills.

The modern "academies" are commercial companies.

I don't share your confidence in teachers. As a paramedic I've attended several incidents involving students in school. I get the impression that their welfare is quite a low priority in far too many schools. They seem more interested in enforcing (often sexist) rules about appearance than anything else. I wrote about one such incident here - https://similarworlds.com/4229681-I-Have-Something-to-Say/2784912-I-was-called-to-an-incident-at-a-school-last-week

Sharon · F

@Caroline259

They seem more interested in enforcing (often sexist) rules about appearance than anything else

That's the impression I get too although recent news reports from some schools, showing footage of schools, suggest such rules aren't being strictly enforced at the moment.

Caroline259 · 56-60, F

@Sharon

such rules aren't being strictly enforced at the moment.

Now you mention it, I've seen reports like that too. I think at least some are from 6th form colleges, where students are treated like adults, so it could be a false impression.

SW-User

@Caroline259 @Sharon my wife's school are not enforcing any uniform rules since start of lockdown.

More important is that clothing is easy to launder and is changed and laundered ideally daily as per government guidance.

Sharon · F

@SW-User

More important is that clothing is easy to launder

Good point, that would explain why the more responsible schools aren't enforcing uniform rules.

SW-User

@Sharon my wife has been regularly writing home/phoning to explain sending the kids in day in day out in the same designer branded tracksuit though is completely against the spirit of the relaxation of the rules. 🤦‍♂️

Sharon · F

@SW-User The problem is that schools spend so much time and effort in thinking up and enforcing petty, pointless, rules that it's difficult to ever take them seriously.