Up to the 2nd December.

farview

Our Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is calling for all schools to close.....!?

What, and give all those lazy skiving teachers that so many Gransnetters complain about more free time with nothing to do? Surely it would be better to force them to stay in superspreading classrooms, looking after everyone’s grandchildren, until Covid dismisses them into coffins.

FWIW, every teacher I know wants to continue teaching in classrooms, even wearing masks and with windows open, bundled up in their outdoor coats. But let’s not kid ourselves that this is a good idea in terms of preventing the spread of infection. It’s absolutely true that children are rarely very ill. But they can give the virus to their teachers, dinner staff, lab technicians, parents, grandparents and carers. Some of those may become ill, very ill, or die. Any or all of them may spread the virus to other people they come into contact with in the community.

The beginning of the second wave coincided with schools opening in early September. Just saying...

bobbydog24

I do think the schools returning could have been better organised. My DG has been isolating twice now after 2 confirmed cases on 2 separate occasions. The week before half term there was only two years in school. I know parents need to work but how can whole classes being sent home at hardly any notice be practical. They should have staggered the intake per week and made bubbles smaller with teachers staying with their own bubble and not crossing to others. Also the school has a drop off and pick up system that ticks all the boxes but some of the parents don’t distance, chat together in groups and roll their eyes if anyone points this out. One of whom I know is an A&E nurse. Lead by example, not.

Subject specialists in secondary schools can't stay within their own bubble.

I agree that it's what's happening outside primary schools which is the problem. Not only the parents outside the school gates, but in rural areas children from all bubbles are on buses together.

The Dfe had six months to work out a better system and was told that schools' reopening before numbers came down really low with an effective Test and Trace system in place, would result in a rise in cases.

The DfE was determined to pander to public opinion and didn't listen to anybody who actually knows what goes on in schools. The so-called evidence it quoted was from a time when only a handful of children were in school and the media generally only showed pictures of half-empty classes. Schools never be Covid-safe, using the definition used for any other building. It's been a textbook lesson in how not to consult or communicate with stakeholders.

Your answer to reasons for another lockdown can be found in a recent open letter dated October 25th to the President of America by Archbishop Vigano.
If interested, research it yourselves.

Our Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is calling for all schools to close.....!?

BlueBelle

Whenever we come out after a few weeks it ll shoot up
Until they get a workable track and trace nothing will make any difference or until they stop overseas travel This is now termed the ‘Spanish wave’ as it all came about from European travel, both ways
I m very annoyed as I m in a low risk area and we could easily have kept going

I think Primary schools should stay open but secondary schools, colleges and universities need to close and learn on-line until the end of this term/semester.
Primary school children are taken to and from school but over 11's have more independence and a social life with their friends outside their places of education. I haven't heard of any major Covid problems with Primary school staff and children but that is certainly not the case with the older students.

Remember Boris' big red bus, when he was campaigning for the Brexit vote. If I remember correctly, £350m per week was going to be going to the NHS instead of the EU. Surely that will help towards more hospitals and staff. Or was that just a dream?

I do think the schools returning could have been better organised. My DG has been isolating twice now after 2 confirmed cases on 2 separate occasions. The week before half term there was only two years in school. I know parents need to work but how can whole classes being sent home at hardly any notice be practical. They should have staggered the intake per week and made bubbles smaller with teachers staying with their own bubble and not crossing to others. Also the school has a drop off and pick up system that ticks all the boxes but some of the parents don’t distance, chat together in groups and roll their eyes if anyone points this out. One of whom I know is an A&E nurse. Lead by example, not.

Thankyou to those posters who are pointing out what a mess the Government have made of this. I have little energy to even post anda major headache from banging it against the wall.
How can anyone 'feel sorry' for those who put themselves forward to lead.
Every day i wake up wondering how the hell Michael Gove got to where he is.
It's the young i feel sorry for especially those who were too young to vote last December.

I'm with Bluebelle. The collateral damage is likely to be worse than the virus.

I do NOT feel sorry for the PM or for the Government. Most of those involved have actually used this Pandemic to make a total fortune for themselves. Contracts have been handed out to them and their mates without any competitive tendering, and most of those contracts have been disasterous - (not for them - but for US the poor taxpaying Jo Public).

Whilst so many people are literally worried sick (many to the point of suicide), as to how they are going to manage financially, so many shops and business having gone to the wall, these politicians firstly happily paid themselves a bonus for having to work from home, and then just as happily voted themselves a three grand a year pay rise.

Wow!!! and then people on here write how sorry they are for them. Please spare that sorry, for the children who are had their half term free school meals denied to them, to the families whose crushing economic problems are leading to them totally breaking up, to those people 'locked down' in small homes, with abusive partners, to all those people who have had their lives forever changed and disrupted by losing their jobs and/or business.

The government have also done such an excellent job (using the adage of DIVIDE AND RULE), of getting victims to blame each other. Spread of the virus is the fault of (Multiple choice question) - note: those elected to govern the country not included in this - nothing they can do is wrong
(A) schools, (B) Universities, (C) beach goers, (D) Those eating out in restaurants, (E) Those not using masks (F) Those attending 'Black Life Matters' demos (G)Those using /not using public transport (H) everyone else outside my own family.

jane10 you say "I feel sorry for the govt. They can't win."

Welcome to the world of leadership! It is the government & PMs job to make the RIGHT decision regardless of who like or does not like it!
He is happy to make decisions thay upset at least 48% of the electorate..he must be used to it by now. Save feeling sorry for that struggling independent business, or the person who is grieving alone....

Their new second wave lockdown rules - oh for an edit button.

Too many “experts” putting their opinions out on the internet so people think they can pick what suits them. Some people seem to expect a rigid set of unchanging rules but the virus just won’t play fair. 700 people attending a rave in Bristol and some attacking the police for intervening. Only the organisers being fined. Those attending knew it was wrong but don’t care who they might pass it on to.

At least we are not in Italy - There is a strong recommendation from the Italian Government that people do not travel by public or private transport except for work, study or health reasons, or for reasons of necessity.
Social distancing of one metre must be observed.
The use of masks is mandatory in all public spaces, whether outdoors or indoors. You should pay close attention to signage when travelling and carry a mask with you at all times.
Only four people can sit together at a restaurant, bar or café. These venues must close 6pm, although they can offer takeaway service until midnight.
Some regions have introduced nightly curfews or restrictions on movement; you should check regional websites to see if these will apply to you.
Theatres, cinemas and concert venues are closed.
Dance activity in nightclubs and open air venues has been suspended and parties are not permitted.
Museums and archaeological sites are open but entry must be pre-booked.
Parks are open and outdoor exercise is permitted, subject to social distancing. Contact sport is banned and sports centres, swimming pools, spas and wellness centres are closed.
Funerals are permitted to take place with limited attendance. Churches can celebrate mass, weddings and baptisms. Receptions following civil and religious ceremonies are banned.
Conferences and trade fairs are banned, unless held online.

I'd like to know if it is going to make any difference in Wales which started is "firebreak" 10 days ago. So far the rates have continued to rise.
Firebreak, circuit breaker? Wish they wouldn't keep changing the terms. Our local council tells us we are at Medium level - what does that mean? Which tier? Personally I agree with the posters here who say it's been a massive over-reaction. So do most of the older people I talk to. But we don't get consulted........

All this sympathy for the government!
They talk about following the science, then ignore it till it is too late.
They have wasted incredible amounts of our money giving contracts to crony firms with no experience, and not even put in penalty clauses for failure.
They boasted of building Nightingale Hispitals, with no plans for staffing them.
Do you notice how benefits etc are 'taxpayers money' , but covid compensation is presented as government largesse?
It horrifies me that these huge decisions are at the whim of one man, even if that man were not Boris Johnson, supported by his hand picked sycophants.

I think our poor NHS workers are going to need more than clapping to keep them going this time.

I am one of the people that Carolpaint believes should not be living. The NHS saved my life and enabled me to have a long and productive career and be a higher rate tax payer. I also do a great deal of voluntary work. So not just a useless drain on society.

How can some people presume to value one life above another in this way? Presumably they also think Stephen Hawking should have been denied life saving treatment early on in his career.

I haven’t seen my family for 11 months. I’ll do what I can to keep myself and others safe,

Two weeks now in N.Ireland on a circuit breaker, not much change in positive cases. Our shops still open and schools closed. Shops are heaving with families every day getting Xmas sorted. Now kids back to school tomorrow which is better than them running amok around shops and streets. They need an education so getting together in school wearing masks than outside not caring, to me far wiser. Two weeks left of pubs, restaurants, beauty etc, closed so it will be interesting to see what happens with them. Local news saying only 12 ventilator beds left here so very worrying for us. People seem more worried about not having Xmas than getting Covid. I know which one I would choose....good luck with your lockdown and hope it works well for you all.x

Jane10

I feel sorry for the govt. They can't win. They have one group of scientists saying they must lockdown and another saying no just isolate the vulnerable and get back to life. One school lobby saying schools must close but another saying its vital they stay open. Unis should close vs unis must stay open etc. Meanwhile, somehow the economy must be considered. Absolutely no easy answers. No matter what they do a whole lot of people will be furious and the arm hair experts will continue their online heckling! It's a sair fecht.

I agree Jane10.

Shropshirelass and JaneRn
I couldn’t agree with you more! Uncharted territory it’s so easy to point fingers. I for one would hate to have to make such decisions, no one would get it right all of the time especially when there are such differing ‘words of advice’ bombarding you in every direction. Unfortunately a great many people have flouted the rules or twisted them to suit themselves and/or lifestyles it’s no wonder we’re in such a state. As for Christmas is this all some folk worry about? I’d love to see my family but I honestly just want a quiet one why undo any good work that will hopefully be achieved we’ll all go backwards very quickly if restrictions are eased because of it. Covid won’t back off just because it’s Christmas ! Stay safe everyone.

Yes I do. Feel as if I am going to spend almost a year indoors

Air or
Hair

Carolpaint
“We have a high death rate because of the NHS being too successful, people are living that should not be. Many of our fittest have to work long shifts because of wimps that have decided their previous illness precludes them coming in duty, others that have to work have have have to do their duty. Many nurses, midwives, teachers, transport workers are having to carry all the slope shoulders.#

I think your comment is offensive. It is horrifying that you imply there are people who should be left to die. You are also not in a position to know the medical details of people you refer to as “wimps”. I do hope you are not employed as a health or care worker.

When a friend in Austria felt ill he called the well-advertised covid test number (run by the Austrian Red Cross) and shortly after a tester in full protective kit arrived on his doorstep to administer the test, which fortunately turned out to be negative.

Contrast that experience with the absurd system in the UK when sick Londoners were told to travel to Aberystwith or Aberdeen for a test. When interviewers challenged Matt Hancock, pointing out that a sick person, or someone with a sick child, should not have to travel hundreds of miles either in a car, or by public transport, possibly infecting many others in the process, he was told that the system had been improved so that no-one would have to travel more than seventy five miles for a test!

And if you believe that ...

Very deepressed with whole situation wish it was a year from now but will we be any better please give me hope!