Close the schools!

Secondary schools most definitely !
Primary no!

I raised this as an issue a few weeks ago when my own experience flagged up the number of positive cases in schools. At that time there was little mention in the press as far as I could see. Now it feels as if we are on the verge of a crisis of epic proportions fuelled by mixing in schools. I think that a national lockdown is inevitable in the new year, in fact it should be in place now. As far as I can see schools should have closed earlier, it might have broken the chain.

i read an article about the south africa mutation, over a week ago! in south Africa, they were seeing more younger teens and children, otherwise healthy, in intensive care. So i am guessing we will have more dither then in new year schools will have to close.

There is much we do not know in view of recent developments regarding Covid-19.

Will those who have had the first strain discovered be immune to the new variants????

Will the vaccines be effective against the new strains?????

Will the infection rate be so great with the new strains that a full March style lockdown will be required in January???

The schools are an important part of the above and the defences required to combat the infection, However, they are only part of what is becoming an evermore complicated and serious scene.

My view would be that announcements will be made over the weekend following New Year and what will happen in the protection of the schools, the food industry, the utility and transport industries will be made then. I do not expect that to be good, but all should wait and see.

Yes Bathsheba I agree on that. We will have to see.

BUT close secondary schools yes, primary schools no.
Well I think that distinction may depend on whether this new variant Covid infects, and is transmitted by, younger children more easily, something that is currently being researched.

No row here on Christmas Eve!

BUT close secondary schools yes, primary schools no.

The infection rate here has gone up and up since the schools reopened. The factory where my DS works had no cases until the high school opened, then several of the workers caught covid, and infected others. They are now running with a skeleton staff. Fortunately they close for Christmas, so with luck, things will be better when they reopen.
Are the government blinkered with regards to children spreading this disease?

Looks as if someone wishes to start a good Chrismas Eve row on GN. ?

The Covid-19 situation seems to be now developing so quickly that who knows what will be required in the New Year. Yesterday was, I felt, the worst day of the crisis so far with the announcement of two new strains of the virus along with the situation at Dover. It may well be that at the start of January a total full lockdown will be required with only essential industries operating as was the case in March.

So, all should wait to hear what is to happen while in the meantime Dover has to be got working efficiently again for if not that will have very serious implications for us all.