What does Johnson mean by "safe"?

I expect we all know this by now, but I think this is a very helpful article. With graphics

english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-28/a-room-a-bar-and-a-class-how-the-coronavirus-is-spread-through-the-air.html

I have two grandchildren, one in primary school and one in secondary. GD in secondary has had one week off caused by a shortage of teachers and only one other year had to go into isolation for 2 weeks. GS in primary has been in and out all last term, finishing his last isolation Christmas Eve. This is more disruptive than not going at all. How can Boris say it’s safe when 30 children crowd into a room with no distancing, heating full belt, with no idea what each child has been in contact with over the past 2 weeks. A doctor on tv said this morning, one asymptomatic child going into a classroom is like throwing a handful of glitter around, it’s gets everywhere.
My daughter will not be sending him back to school, however ‘safe’ Boris claims it is.

Perhaps he has listened to Ed Davey for once.

As I said, an oven ready U-Turn on it's way.

Perhaps he had actually listened to Starmer and will impose a national lockdown?

Johnson to broadcast message at 8pm - lockdown in England to follow lockdown in Scotland?

Yet another announcement, trying to catch up with events at 8pm.

Be the usual piffle I suppose. Trying to look as if he knows what he is talking about.

What does Johnson mean by "safe"?

He wants schools to remain open so he'll say anything to 'encourage' people to think he knows what he's talking about. Bombast as usual.

kwest

My grandchildren go to an excellent school. Wyedean on the English Welsh border.

It is in England, in Gloucestershire. However, a lot of pupils from Wales go there so they, and staff, are crossing the border daily, as are many local people.
Forest of Dean has just gone into Tier 4 along with Wales's Level 4.

Whinge Alert:

Is it just me who gets annoyed at seeing Boris bumping elbows with members of the public whom he meets?
People were doing that in the beginning but no-one does this now as it means you are too close to someone.

Nannan2

How many people would protest if someone put a whole few hundred animals (of any kind) into a big box and added a dose of each of these covid variants and waited to see what would happen?Yes there would probably be uproar! (And rightly so!) Yet so many seem to think its 'ok' or 'safe' to put all these HUMAN children/young people into schools/colleges, all together, day after day, where there's probably at least one dose of covid on the loose......???

So well put.

People aged 12-16 are seven times more likely to bring the infection into a household than older people. The next most infectious age group are those of primary school age.

How many people would protest if someone put a whole few hundred animals (of any kind) into a big box and added a dose of each of these covid variants and waited to see what would happen?Yes there would probably be uproar! (And rightly so!) Yet so many seem to think its 'ok' or 'safe' to put all these HUMAN children/young people into schools/colleges, all together, day after day, where there's probably at least one dose of covid on the loose......???

Lemongrove- children arent supposed to be 'socialising' are they??

The death of the 8 year old has been quite widely reported in a number of papers.

And the 'children being deprived of their education"? Has anyone thought to ASK them if they want to take that risk of going to school/college in this stage of an uncontrollable pandemic??Some are old enough to have a grasp on it you know! Im sure some of them are terrified of being shoved into school/college day after day like this- put at risk, just because Boris& education buffs say "its fine!"- especially if they have already had a dose of covid (like some of my GC) - or if they're medically vulnerable, like my 17 yr old son, or if they have older, or medically vulnerable family at home?? Can you imagine what must be going through their minds? Just for a few lessons- its not worth the risk of their or their families lives for is it?!?

Cossy

Finally, I would add in the last 10 days I have seen articles stating both a 6 year and an 8 year old were admitted to hospital after testing positive for COVID and both extremely unwell, sadly the 8 year passed away. Please don’t put in that young children cannot spread this virus, because frankly no one knows and it’s looking highly likely that the new mutation affects all ages and can be caught and spread by any age !

Whilst I don't disagree with your posts per se, I think you need to be careful quoting random articles that you have read, about certain children dying.
We have all seen recently how this kind of statement can be taken as truth, and spreads like wildfire. Unsubstantiated articles just add to the anxiety and distress that many people are feeling at the moment.

Caro57, what if the children at this age/stage are all/mostly wiped out by the virus, who will 'look after you in your dotage' then?? Or what if they catch/spread it to you/or to people already in their 'dotage' what then?? Not really thought this through properly have we?....?

I'm in Essex. Near the Suffolk border. I must admit when I did go out a few weeks ago most people were wearing masks but I was out at 8am and only local and then I popped into a supermarket at 8pm and there were a few not wearing masks. I was quite surprised at what my friend said but she is out and about more than me.

Yes Lemongrove, but we dont go sit in a supermarket for about 6 hours at a time, mostly without masks, do we???

I’m astounded that schools can decide it’s ‘not safe’ to work in them. What do people think would happen if the NHS workers decided the same?
These children being deprived of their education are the people we are counting on to look after us in our dotage. I would prefer my carers to have an education

PenE

The government as usual will squarely blame education. If they want schools open why haven't they made vaccination priority for the staff. Vaccinate the exam year groups as well.They can they worry about revision rather than daily covid tests!

Spot on. It's all very well using the word 'safe' to describe the risks to younger children - but it's certainly not applicable for teachers or for children's families..! The virus spreads rapidly and will then be taken home to infect - & kill - older members of families. What a thing for a child to have to live with..! ?

Schools should be closed as a measure yo break the cycle. Whilst young children may not succumb to the virus but they can spread it via touch. Parents will congregate perhaps not in sight of the school gate. How many parents join up to walk together and chat with no masks. I am fed up seeing this, usually mums with school children and others in pushchairs walking side by side and thanking me for stepping onto the road to let them pass!! Schools should be closed.

Just to add I work in schools as well mostly KS1. Schools have not closed and all the staff are working harder than ever to try and keep things "normal". Constant changes issued which are all last minute and usually vague are put into place and dealt with but it is exhausting and I'm sure nobody was able to rest during christmas holidays.It is easier in lots of ways to be in the school building but the way the virus is spreading just shows that being in school isnt helping.

I am not a fan of Kier Starmer but I think he’s right. We need a national lockdown right now. It’s the only thing that works. I don’t believe a child’s education is more important than my life. This government has had a half hearted approach since the start of the pandemic and it has cost many lives. We need a decisive government not this shower of incompetent idiots who, by being too late to act on EVERYTHING have increased the pandemic rather than control it. They need to shut down education right now or this disease will tear through the entire country. What is wrong with them? It’s so frustrating and makes me angry.

The government as usual will squarely blame education. If they want schools open why haven't they made vaccination priority for the staff. Vaccinate the exam year groups as well.They can they worry about revision rather than daily covid tests!