Close the schools!

Check them out for yourself Baggs.

www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-daily-deaths/

John Crace

Jeremy Hunt declares UDI from Boris

Jeremy Hunt

Time to act: we need to close schools, borders, and ban all household mixing RIGHT AWAY.

Nezumi65

Baggs

Positive tests showing up cases are not the whole picture. It's real illness, hospital admissions and deaths associated with schools that I would like to see data for.

I think one of the reasons so many people are so scared is that news media have focussed on cases rather than bad effects. Most people who test positive are not ill.

Admissions are currently higher than the peak at April with the peak a couple of weeks away IF we lock down today.

Some hospitals are struggling to find enough oxygen and are starting to ration it.

According to reliable sources late last night anyway

Do you have a link to the reliable sources, please, nezumi?

Whitewavemark2

The next thing is to cancel exams.

Those children have so much pressure and missed schooling it is totally unfair to expect them to be able to be at their best.

I do agree with cancelling exams however, it would have to be across all of the UK to be fair to this years cohort.

I also think that sixth form colleges should increase places on access courses in September 2021 ( dependant on the education system operating as normal )

I agree WWM.

Why don't we just extend state funded education by a year? Let all of this years cohort redo this year, starting next September (supposing that covid under control by then). Sit exams a year later.

The next thing is to cancel exams.

Those children have so much pressure and missed schooling it is totally unfair to expect them to be able to be at their best.

Baggs

Positive tests showing up cases are not the whole picture. It's real illness, hospital admissions and deaths associated with schools that I would like to see data for.

I think one of the reasons so many people are so scared is that news media have focussed on cases rather than bad effects. Most people who test positive are not ill.

Admissions are currently higher than the peak at April with the peak a couple of weeks away IF we lock down today.

Some hospitals are struggling to find enough oxygen and are starting to ration it.

According to reliable sources late last night anyway

Yesterday, there were 24,957 confirmed Covid patients in English hospitals. 2,181 were in mechanical ventilation beds.

I suppose they're all there for a laugh!

Most people who test positive are not ill.

But they may pass it to someone else.

That's the problem

Positive tests showing up cases are not the whole picture. It's real illness, hospital admissions and deaths associated with schools that I would like to see data for.

I think one of the reasons so many people are so scared is that news media have focussed on cases rather than bad effects. Most people who test positive are not ill.

There ARE little pockets of covid free schools, but they are few and far between. Our DGC's primary school has had no cases, neither children nor teachers. The secondary school where DD teaches got right to the last fortnight of term with no cases. The infection rate here now is no higher than it was in September in their area. It would seem a shame to close schools where problems do not exist, but I do understand it being for the common good.

Goodness, Baggs.

Where are you?

My 12 year old grandson was in and out of school during the winter term. He never did a full week due to either a positive tested child or teacher.

I have 2 teachers in the family who have both had to isolate due to an infection at school

Schools will never be safe. Nowhere will be safe

Time to close the schools, (open for key workers) and wait for the vaccine

A request for statistics proves nothing, galaxy. I think data (and not just anecdote) would be helpful though.

Oh and my sons school pretty much had a case per week since they returned.

I am not sure what that proves. I work into schools I know many many people who have had covid.

I'd be interested to see some statistics about teacher covid illness and death across the UK so far. Surely they would settle the question of whether schools are 'safe' or 'safe enough'? I haven't seen any so far.

I work with several key workers, some of whom could not have carried on working during the first lockdown if arrangements had not been made for their children to attend school (not always their usual school so sometimes twenty-five mile round trips were necessary to get them to and fro). I heard no reports of children or teachers becoming ill.

Similarly, none of my co-workers and none of the people they help in their key roles have become ill with covid since the start of the pandemic. None.

Schools would remain open to keyworker and vulnerable children.

Closing schools completely is not a good idea. Not every child sitting at home has a teacher parent or the work ethic to complete work themselves.

The virus is completely out of control right now.

The teaching unions may decide that the teachers just can't be expected to work in such an unsafe environment.

That may well force BJ into making the right decision. Here's hoping. Saving lives is paramount.

Who was it that wrote the article recently saying that Johnson cannot take difficult decisions & so does nothing g until there is only one option left?

He’s doing that AGAIN.

Some of the stuff I was reading about the NHS last night was really worrying. It’s obvious that a proper national lockdown is needed - the new variant is spreading in tier 4, & that’s with schools shut the last 2 weeks.

MayBee70

I can’t help but feel that the people will decide to go into lockdown themselves and won’t bother waiting for the government to tell them to do what obviously needs to be done.

The people are taking back control.

I can’t help but feel that the people will decide to go into lockdown themselves and won’t bother waiting for the government to tell them to do what obviously needs to be done.

Our County Council are faffing about, our local unitary council has stated parents will not be fined if their children don’t attend. Hetty58 I agree, lockdown, tomorrow.

So many times over the last nine months our hopeless government just could not see what was blindingly obvious to mast sensible folk Hetty

It's just blindingly obvious that we need an immediate national lockdown, with schools remaining closed, asap. I don't see how it could be avoided at this stage.