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The overseas kids at the local boarding school have to have a 'sponsor' in this country should a mishap occur. When lockdown started and the school contacted the sponsors, most didn't want to know. So the school is stuck with these kids irrespective of what they planned to do and I can't see them going very public about infections. Yet another reason to stay well clear of the scodgers.
No matter how hard I’ve tried (or realistically just not avoided) I’ve never developed flu so I’m not really bothered for myself so it’s really a question of if I should get it to avoid spreading the virus to others.
You probably have had flu in the past, developed good cross-reactive immunity and this has limited any further infections to an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) more like a cold. I've had flu multiple times, including a lower RTI, and it was really unpleasant. COVID was worse.
Private schools will already have finished wont they? Is it a 30 week academic year that they have?
My son broke up on Friday for three weeks. He works at a prep school. Eton closed early and my friend's son is back home from Eton. He's been home once already during term time too due to COVID outbreaks.
I think oakleymuppet has it. Speaking from London, it makes sense that we'd adhere to rules over Christmas. But logic is out the window. Lockdown fatigue, U turns misunderstanding and general ambivalence mean that a lot of people will do what the want anyway, whether it gets changed or not.
For me, either positively or negatively Christmas is a period we just have to get through and Jan/Feb being compromised as a result is the obvious result.
I don't think Johnson will "cancel Christmas", he's a populist and this will not sit well with him at all. I also think that people have made their plans and I suspect will do what they planned to do anyway, irrelevant if he says not to. There'd be no way of policing it as so many would break it.
I do think they'll issue some pretty clear guidelines on what you should and shouldn't do when meeting family indoors (time spent together, distance, that kind of thing) so that when infections go up in Jan he can say "if you'd followed the guidelines it'd be OK, but you didn't so it's not".
I also think it'll lead to a mass lockdown in January and February, which may work well for him as people will talk about that and not the mess that is Brexit instead...
Not ventured onto this thread for a while. As I've mentioned before though my sister is on the fringes of the science of this. Today's morning briefing at Guys appears to have frightened the bejesus out of the scientists behind the scenes. The positive rate of those tested in the last 24hrs has shot up from around 5% to over 50% literally overnight. Lots of scrabbling around trying to work out why.
If I lived in the London area right now there is no way in hell I'd be hosting a multigenerational Christmas and mixing a gran with your teenage kids.
Any more info Convert...? I for one would like TiRed and others to run over those figures, before I even think of passing that news onto family members in London still planning Christmas in Cornwall with the old duffers*.
[ as bright as a pin, and very active, in reality... not duffers at all... but over 70 ]
Any more info Convert…? I for one want TiRed to run over those figures, before I even thing of passing that news onto family members in London still planning Christmas in Cornwall.
Not yet - I'll post if I get more. She had speculated previously that the number of folk in London with antibodies (that was her main piece of work) was very high (circa 25%) in comparison to UK generally. I think they are wondering if London's hard won immunity from earlier in the year might be losing its effect. But why and why so suddenly......
But why and why so suddenly……
Isn't that the new strain? A rhetorical question as I appreciate you probably don't know, but just putting it out there.
I'm 27, no existing medical issues, am I supposed to be getting the flu jab this winter as the messaging has been confusing.
I also think that people have made their plans and I suspect will do what they planned to do anyway, irrelevant if he says not to
He has form for Ede. I would not be at all surprised.
I’m 27, no existing medical issues, am I supposed to be getting the flu jab this winter as the messaging has been confusing.
Only if you pay for it. Over 50's (rather than 60's) are free this year. Vaccination for flu is really about preventing healthcare burden on top of COVID infections. You aren't likely to be a burden.
TiReD
You probably have had flu in the past, developed good cross-reactive immunity and this has limited any further infections to an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) more like a cold. I’ve had flu multiple times, including a lower RTI, and it was really unpleasant. COVID was worse.
Well I'm pretty sure I've been in contact with plenty of variants but I don't see this year being any different? Once a decade or so I get some sort of sinus infection whatever the cause.
The question is should I get the flu vaccine to protect others?
I've never actually read the letters or text messages before ... getting any sort of appointment with the GP's surgery is a major trauma.
According to the letter from "NHS England and NHS Improvement" "your health condition.. blah blah"
On one side I don't like the tone... para 2 says "Why do I need....". This doesn't start me off in a good mood (Hint to Dildo Hardon .. telling people what the NEED is going to get you very low takeup of the Covid Vaccine)
However the letter also says I can get an appointment at a pharmacy so that's possible.
It also says demand as been high and some people have been unable to get vaccinated so am I taking a dose away from someone who actually NEEDS it...
The sprog and OH have both been vaccinated at their schools and I feel with the precautions I'm taking for Covid my chance of spreading it unknowingly are much lower.
morecash
Had a weird 12 hour head cold about 24 hours later, which I’m assuming was my body reacting to it.
Erm, that is flu for me... (in so far as other had flu or a very bad cold) .. bit sniffy and a headache perhaps for a couple of hours
convert
Lots of scrabbling around trying to work out why.
Uh... ??? Schools are open. Ask Sadiq Khan what he thinks is the reason.
My kid now thinks he's in with a decent chance of winning the hunger games at school. Down to the last 10 as of Monday though he was disappointed no-one from his year got sent home to isolate yesterday.
@stevextc - glad your kid can make dark humour from a bad situation. The "move to learning from homes" cock up is so avoidable - after a year of u turns, this one would have been welcomed. Legal threats to councils just make the government look more ridiculous.
Uh… ??? Schools are open. Ask Sadiq Khan what he thinks is the reason.
My kid now thinks he’s in with a decent chance of winning the hunger games at school. Down to the last 10 as of Monday though he was disappointed no-one from his year got sent home to isolate yesterday.
Uh - not sure you get it.
Schools have been open since the beginning of September and all changes in numbers thus far have been incremental. No influencing variable has changed markedly in super rapid time. This is virtually a 10X increase in positives overnight. But from broadly the same number of tests - that's the bit that's freaking them out. Why the same number presenting themselves for tests but a massive increase in positives....
No influencing variable has changed markedly in super rapid time.
Testing, kids round here (just S of London) have started getting tested illegally.
Re the flu jab,I rang up my local pharmacy and asked if I could be put on the waiting list for a flu jab and they said "what waiting list? Come in whenever you want" I went in at 9.00 this morning and was jabbed and out in five minutes. Wouldn't let me pay for it either - apparently free for over 50's, I thought it was 65.
They were also vaccinating for Covid in the building next door - that was a much bigger operation with marshalls and specific parking slots etc.
All in a tiny Sussex market town!
Testing, kids round here (just S of London) have started getting tested illegally.
That's not the kind of variable I was thinking of. The opening/closing bits of the economy or massive changes in rules that would make figure jump up so radically.
Testing of kids - not sure that would skew the figures that much.
But I'm now hypothesizing way beyond my knowledge which I've promised myself I'm not going to do, so I'll stop now but report back when I actually have numbers (if I do).
glad your kid can make dark humour from a bad situation.
It's actually quite funny for us. It means he won't see gran over XMAS but otherwise of little consequence to us apart from we won't be able to go riding to the New Year if they wait till Friday to tell them to self isolate.
The “move to learning from homes” cock up is so avoidable – after a year of u turns, this one would have been welcomed. Legal threats to councils just make the government look more ridiculous.
They (UK Govt) cut the cord on that when they adopted the narrative of kids not being safe with their parents and carers. Obviously doesn't apply to kids in private schools...just the plebs.
Chuck in the no free kids meals etc. and they dug themselves in good and proper.
Staggers me that the school are somehow meant to teach with >2/3 self isolating... seems like everyone loses out. It is however handy as kids being told to self isolate can't get tested unless they have symptoms...
convert
Testing of kids – not sure that would skew the figures that much.
>2/3rds of my kids class are self isolating... but they can't get a NHS test unless they have symptoms.
More recently however kids at my son's school have been getting illegally tested and being tested positive. (I think there are 1100 in the whole school - I don't know what percent as they won't tell us so I only know the percent of my sons class)
We are in Woking and pop. is as near 100k to make cases/incidence per 100k
This number for the last 7 days (246) seems to be almost entirely secondary school pupils, a huge number from one of the other secondaries. I'm not sure how they are getting tested or if legal action will be taken as apparently these are children who were told to self isolate yet the school says "at least one" was asymptomatic" (whatever at least one means).. could be 1 or 100
Either way (at least here) it seems parents are willing to break the law and get their children tested when asymptomatic so I expect a huge surge in cases.
Assuming the a similar ratio throughout the school that's 600-700 pupils self isolating so 1:10 testing positive ads 60-70 for a single secondary) Add in siblings (still in school) and families and its easy to see how sampling at this end of the exponential growth can show a sudden and huge increase
however kids at my son’s school have been getting illegally tested
How does that work then? Some bloke in a dark alley doing swab tests for a fiver a go, or do you mean kids getting tested at the official test sites without having symptoms?
Steve - just to bring your theory crashing down...a quick text....she says the of number people tested in each age group remains broadly the same. So even if EVERY child tested was positive that would only represent a very small part of the 1000% rise.
How does that work then? Some bloke in a dark alley doing swab tests for a fiver a go, or do you mean kids getting tested at the official test sites without having symptoms?
The latter I suspect.
I know of a few people who've been told to isolate by the NHS app but have no symptoms so no test. Due to work they do (trades, and self employed) they've faked symptons and got a test so they can go back to work.
I know that's not how it's meant to work but I understand why they'd do it
The positive rate of those tested in the last 24hrs has shot up from around 5% to over 50% literally overnight. Lots of scrabbling around trying to work out why.
I really really hope this turns out to be a mess-up at the lab, contaminated equipment etc. giving one day's duff results.
I really really hope this turns out to be a mess-up at the lab, contaminated equipment etc. giving one day’s duff results.
I think that is what they are hoping too!
Down to the last 10 as of Monday
Lessons with only one pupil in the class with the teacher, and everyone else at home, has stopped being unusual in my lad's school. Still... they're open... 🤷🏻
Our boy went back in (we had let him stay at home as all his dinner group either tested positive or were asked to self isolate, and the school were only taking lesson seating plans into account when identifying close contacts) as the mixed home/onsite learning just wasn't working... the teachers were failing (not their fault) to successfully teach to those present, and those at home... but when he went went back in, it turned out to be a bit of a ghost school, with even more pupils following along online instead of being onsite. What do you do? More importantly, what do schools do? The plans for this were clearly set out in September by the Dept for Education... but they have since abandoned them... and threatened schools and councils that attempt to follow those September plans. School are being treated poorly right now... they just can't do right in anyone's eyes... AND IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT.
or do you mean kids getting tested at the official test sites without having symptoms?
Self isolate means self isolate.
You can't leave the house UNLESS you have symptoms.
It's like saying you were just dropping the family off before taking the expired car to the MOT centre or driving to Barnard castle with reduced vision. So they are either going to a test site or a private GP, either way it's illegal unless they have symptoms when they have been instructed to self isolate.
So my mates Dave and Biba thought Biba had CV in March. Biba was really ill for a week, Dave took time off to look after her and take the kids to school.
No tests do so so positive results.
Now if that happened today the kids would be sent home and told not to get tested. If one of them got tested then one result, if instead they went for a private test there is a good chance all 4 would test +ve.
Due to work they do (trades, and self employed) they’ve faked symptons and got a test so they can go back to work.
No they can't.... it doesn't matter how many negative tests if you have been told to self isolate you can't leave the house and you can't go back to work.
If you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app:
self-isolate for 10 days from when you were last in contact with the person who tested positive for coronavirus
do not leave your home for any reason – if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off at your home
What to do when you get your test result
If you test negative (the test did not find coronavirus):keep self-isolating for the rest of the 10 days from when you were last in contact with the person who has coronavirus – as you could get symptoms after being tested
anyone you live with can stop self-isolating if they do not have symptoms
anyone in your support bubble can stop self-isolating if they do not have symptoms
Spot the flaw?
Steve – just to bring your theory crashing down…a quick text….she says the of number people tested in each age group remains broadly the same. So even if EVERY child tested was positive that would only represent a very small part of the 1000% rise.
That would be expected.
Those who do have symptoms will have been spreading it to family for a week by the time they have symptoms and another few days by the time they get results
If I was going to pay for a private test I'd do the whole family.. wouldn't you?
Lesson with only one pupil in the class with the teacher, and everyone else at home, has stopped being unusual in my lad’s school. Still… they’re open… 🤷🏻
but when he went went back in, it turned out to be a bit of a ghost school, with even more pupils following along online instead of being onsite. What do you do? More importantly, what do schools do? The plan’s for this were clearly set out in September by the Dept for Education… but they have since abandoned them… and threatened schools and councils that attempt to follow those September plans. School are being treated poorly right now… they just can’t do right in anyone’s eyes… AND IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT.
As I've said before, it's killing people and time people just stopped following orders because those orders are just a pyramid.
AND IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT.
No the fault lies at the top of the pyramid but still, there is a time to do as you're told and a time to break ranks.
On one hand this could domino upwards... it will be interesting to see what happens between Knan and the Govt.
Three in four boroughs in the city have registered an increase in Covid-19 cases, figures released last week from the Office of National Statistics show.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said it supported Greenwich Council and the mayor in their call for schools to move to online learning.
He said: "The government should have been planning for this weeks ago.
"They have now started to recognise the blindingly obvious fact that transmission is happening in schools and that this can spread to families. But the government now needs to act.
"Much more is needed to control the virus in schools and to protect communities."
The issue here is the government did what this current one does and hijack narratives.
Boris and chums jumped on the narrative that most parents are going to murder or sexually abuse their children whilst promising free childcare and children would have mental health issues and a huge number commit suicide if not forced to go into school.
So, what's the alternative? Follow the rules .. wait until they are told to self isolate then lock the door to their rooms and change the bucket once a day and push some food under the door?
I'm not suggesting people would but that is what the government are saying we should do.
I think my kids schools have done an amazing job in the circumstances. It has been new for everyone, but they've adapted well.
No they can’t…. it doesn’t matter how many negative tests if you have been told to self isolate you can’t leave the house and you can’t go back to work.
I'm aware of that, and I'm not suggesting it's either a legal or sensible thing to do.
But I'm giving an example of people faking symptoms to get a test.
They shouldn't do it but if you're not getting paid if you don't work then it's something you may decide to do. Apps says you may have it, get tested, get a negative, ignore app and get on with things.
I’m aware of that, and I’m not suggesting it’s either a legal or sensible thing to do.
But I’m giving an example of people faking symptoms to get a test.
Well sensible is a different matter.
if you’re not getting paid if you don’t work then it’s something you may decide to do
Sounds much much more sensible than not having one and continuing to work!
Apps says you may have it, get tested, get a negative, ignore app and get on with things.
Just out of curiosity what happens to the App when you go to a test centre or hospital?
I know I turned off my location tracking when going to hospital as my mum tends to "follow me"
No they can’t…. it doesn’t matter how many negative tests if you have been told to self isolate you can’t leave the house and you can’t go back to work.
I’m aware of that, and I’m not suggesting it’s either a legal or sensible thing to do.
But I’m giving an example of people faking symptoms to get a test.
They shouldn’t do it but if you’re not getting paid if you don’t work then it’s something you may decide to do. Apps says you may have it, get tested, get a negative, ignore app and get on with things.
First, bin the app. Second as has been said if you are told to isolate a negative test result proves nothing, whats the point. In my case it was all easy as I got paid regardless, but getting a test is risky, if it comes back positive you'd have to isolate for longer!!
Boris and chums jumped on the narrative that most parents are going to murder or sexually abuse their children
God (and the forum) forgive me for defending Boris, but at no time has the government made any such statement, as we established yesterday this is your spin on the government's decision to prioritise education.
Not true.
There was a lot of government media spin about vulnerable kids needing to be looked after by being in school.
Then all kids.
Then the spin about their mental health, despite the only scientific studies showing child anxiety actually decreased with lockdown 1.0 and school closures.
Couldn't have parents not being economically productive so " won't somebody think of the children".
There was a lot of government media spin about vulnerable kids needing to be looked after by being in school
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but this isn't entirely government spin. There are plenty of kids out there for whom the school environment provides the only stability, routine, and in some cases decent hot meal some kids get.
However I agree - keeping kids in school also keeps those who can work at work. That's a main driving factor.
Well, my other half works at a school with lots of staff off after positive tests. Today the head got 200 kids and 25 staff into a room together. My other half was the only one wearing a mask. She had the windows open… other staff closed them. Bonkers.
Loum
Not true.
There was a lot of government media spin about vulnerable kids needing to be looked after by being in school.
Then all kids.
Then the spin about their mental health, despite the only scientific studies showing child anxiety actually decreased with lockdown 1.0 and school closures.
Which jumped on the back of the loonies that talk about child abuse and parents murdering kids
(which they don't seem to stop anyway - just target those perfectly OK)
Del
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but this isn’t entirely government spin. There are plenty of kids out there for whom the school environment provides the only stability, routine, and in some cases decent hot meal some kids get.
Erm, and when they got the chance for the hot meal they denied it to the kids....
Loum
Then the spin about their mental health, despite the only scientific studies showing child anxiety actually decreased with lockdown 1.0 and school closures.
See no-one ever mentions the kids for whom school is hell and what forcing them into what is essentially a prison does to their MH.
However I agree – keeping kids in school also keeps those who can work at work. That’s a main driving factor.
Doesn't really apply to secondary schools though ...
There was a lot of government media spin about vulnerable kids needing to be looked after by being in school.
Of course. But that isn't what Steve is saying is it?
Of course. But that isn’t what Steve is saying is it?
Yes, its exactly what I'm saying.
They piggybacked on the existing narrative and skirted around it but essentially they were implying children would be killed by parents etc.
Boris repeated (yesterday I think, saw the clip on news) "Children are safer in schools"
What exactly is he implying? Like Wittey babbling on about how kids have a low risk etc. but totally diverting from their teachers, parents and carers.
the government’s decision to prioritise education.
How have they prioritised education?
They cancelled the only important days in the entire 15 years of school life
Williamson has taken legal action to prevent schools switching to home learning, even when less than 1/2 the kids are actually in school.
Well, my other half works at a school with lots of staff off after positive tests. Today the head got 200 kids and 25 staff into a room together.
Why ???? Like ... WTF why?
My other half was the only one wearing a mask. She had the windows open… other staff closed them. Bonkers.
This sounds like the typical Covidiot ... "we're not scared look at us". I bet they were giving your OH the dirty looks as well for being so silly as to wear a mask in a room with 225 people.
Honestly this shows how borked we are.... not only is it cool to not wear a mask to protect others who aren't there but its even cooler to shove it in the face of anyone who does! Shows how hard you are!
essentially they were implying children would be killed by parents etc.
No. Nowhere near. At no point has the government - or any sane person, or indeed, any of the not so sane ones - suggested that the government has been pushing kids back into school because to quote you "most" parents will abuse or kill them.
I can tell you for certain that the hokey-cokey routine of schooling is definitely having a negative effect on pupils' mental health and anxiety levels.
Pupils isolating are worried that they are falling behind. Pupils still in school can be highly anxious, worrying about the impact of being asked to isolate. Parents are tied in knots trying to decide what is best for children/ the wider family, especially with Christmas fast approaching.
We simply cannot accommodate online learning AND face to face teaching, on a diminished staff, with all the other protocols ramping the already heavy workload.
Let alone the changing, and still unknown, requirements for examination awards this session. Pupils who aren't even in exam cohorts are starting to get twitchy as the have seen the car-crash last year, can sense it happening again, and think that they are next in the firing line.
Will there be an announcement tomorrow on the Tier status for the regions/cities/towns?
I had Flu once, and it was the most ill i've ever been outside of peritonitis from a burst appendix.
I have subsequently been dismissive of anyone with a 'touch' of flu, or with 'just' the flu. One thing i remember most clearly from it was understanding on a deep and spiritual level why this might kill you. Influenza will kick your arse from here to way over there.
I remain deeply concerned of experiencing Covid-19, and hope to avoid it altogether if at all possible.
Would i take the vaccine...?
https://imgur.com/gallery/4UY4Ll0
This is interesting (vitamin D):
Dexamethasone in the same structural steroid family as ‘D’, shares common VDR (vitamin-D-receptor)[3] and related gene pathways,[4] is artificial, and in some circumstances mitigates against COVID-19, albeit with variable side-effects. Dexamethasone is clearly a useful adjunct.
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3872/rr-5
I can tell you for certain that the hokey-cokey routine of schooling is definitely having a negative effect on pupils’ mental health and anxiety levels.
This, and if I genuinely thought it wasn't the case, I'd have my two at home right now.
5thElefant, that's not a peer reviewed article, it's a reply to one from an unqualified person at a vitamin research foundation
Not to say his links aren't vid, but it's not a Bmj article
I was reading that rapid response and the article it refers to yesterday, I think the jury is still out on vitamin d and covid.
However a lot of people in the uk are vitamin d deficient and should probably take it all winter. I have some in the cupboard I keep forgetting to take. 🙄
Edit- looked up the author of that rapid response- appears to be a nutrition/vitamin zealot so hardly unbiased.
It's looking as though some tier 3 regions could be put into a tier 2 (in the Northwest).
Now I understand this would be great for moral and the pubs, cafes and restaurants. But, Really, before Christmas. Madness.
Even though I live in an area that's virtually been in a lockdown or tier 3 except a few short weeks at the end of summer, imo to do this at this time would be putting such strain on the already pressured NHS.
No. Nowhere near. At no point has the government – or any sane person, or indeed, any of the not so sane ones – suggested that the government has been pushing kids back into school because to quote you “most” parents will abuse or kill them.
This is the exact narrative.
Millions of families are suffering with poverty and outright destitution but loony's are going on about child abuse at home.
What exactly do you think Boris is implying to the red top paper readers when he say's "children are safer in school" on one hand whilst refusing to feed them unless they go into school?
Picking the exact words is simply playing into their hands. They infer but then deny they meant spending £350M on the NHS or an "oven ready deal" meant a trade deal... or that they have never had a herd immunity policy.
Other than the latter where Gove is saying Vallance was lying and they didn't take the strategy were just "advised" they have carefully chosen words to fuel the red top paper readers.
It doesn't matter what YOU think ... Boris doesn't give a toss what you think he gives a toss about his popularity and approval with the red top readers and that is the message being given out.
Is it today we should get an announcement on Tier changes?
Boris doesn’t give a toss what you think he gives a toss about his popularity and approval with the red top readers and that is the message being given out.
There is a significant overlap between the type of people who would be very pissed off with any change to the Christmas arrangements and those more likely to vote for him. So let's see if he does the right thing.
Again, if he'd allowed schools to shut a week/10 days early, that would have significantly decreased the risk to elderly contacts by the 25th.
Is there any further evidence yet that the 'new variant' is behind the southeast surge, or is that just Matty Hancock jumping the gun and trying to look for excuses?
This is the exact narrative.
Millions of families are suffering with poverty and outright destitution but loony’s are going on about child abuse at home.
The only person who has brought child abuse into this thread is you. It's certainly not been mentioned by the government as you have stated.
I'm not disagreeing with any of your other points about poverty, mental health, counter-intuitive rules and regulations.
Two new cases in Sydney today: in the posh bit too.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-16/two-new-covid-19-cases-in-nsw/12991234
There seems to be some outrage on Facebook that cabin/flight crew aren’t quarantining/socially distancing enough on arrival - we’ve had a few cases now traced back to that. Struggling to get upset about that myself
Soo the government say we should isolate before seeing relatives before xmas, with 9 days to go, but the isolation period is 10 days!?!
Found the answer to my own question.
Review today announcement tomorrow.
The only person who has brought child abuse into this thread is you. It’s certainly not been mentioned by the government as you have stated.
Absolutely this, You're the only person I've heard even mentioning this Steve, lots of (rightully) concern about kids not being fed or schooled at home, but it's only you that's went for the full scale child abuse line.
Soo the government say we should isolate before seeing relatives before xmas, with 9 days to go, but the isolation period is 10 days!?!
Yet schools stay open. It's all nonsense... as we fully expected it to be... hence deciding here back in September that with a teacher and a pupil at two different schools, that there was no way we could safely see anyone this Christmas... that early the government were clearly heading to a Christmas where only their families could safely get together at Christmas... the joined up thinking of closing state school buildings early enough for our kids to see their grandparents has never entered their collective minds.
I alluded to that yesterday @kelvin but it didn't seem like it'd be particularly well met. It's clearly an incredibly difficult balancing act for even a competent government to do with regards to lockdowns, schools opening, and managing the xmas period. However, private school kids are all safely at home isolating now....state schools are open so plebs like me can't use the childcare excuse for not going to work.
I’m in tier 2 (but not going well!). My local pub has just closed its doors until next year. Problems included people from Tier 3 coming down & lying about where they were from, people refusing to follow COVID Rules & people abusing staff.
An interesting take on school closures:
https://ieureka.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2020/12/15/covid19-should-schools-close-early-for-christmas/
I've read it. It's bobbins.
I'll give you one little quote to consider...
Rates have recently fallen among adults in England, despite schools remaining open and secondary school rates increasing. The evidence suggests low levels of virus transmission within schools.
Read it a few times.
140,000 people vaccinated so far according to Nadhim Zahawi
They’ve had the first of 2 required doses. I hope they don’t think they’re immune already, and change their behaviour in the basis of that. They need to wait until 7 days after the second dose.
Well, our PCN’s proposed vaccine sites have been torpedoed by the CCG because of new requirements based on the two adverse reactions. So we’re back to square one, looking for a site for our patients.
bit of a shit show if I’m honest
There is no evidence that teachers are more at risk of death from COVID19, and infection rates among teachers do not seem higher than other professions.
ONS data from the first wave of the COVID19 epidemic in the UK showed that teachers were not at increased risk of death from the disease compared to other professionals.
What when schools were closed teachers didnt get covid...**** me thats the opening bit on infection in teachers...who are these clowns?
They cite lots of reasonable data... but the arguments they build/infer from them just read as total bobbins to me. Very worrying... as that's their field...
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/integrative-epidemiology/
"Leading the development of causal analysis methods for application in population-based and clinical health sciences."
Hopefully they are right... but the way they use "evidence" smacks of picking a position, and trying to back it up. Anyway, hopefully they are right... because most schools are staying "open" (despite so many kids now learning from home, and therefore still suffering the negative effects they attribute to closing school buildings).
Just had a text from my GP's surgery. They are having to close one site and run the other in the mornings only after 5 staff tested positive yesterday. That's going to be fun for the Track-and-Trace team.
Just been announced that wales is going into a full Stay At Home lockdown on the 28th December.
Dexamethasone in the same structural steroid family as ‘D’
Steroids do a LOT more than bind to the Vitamin D receptor and activate or suppress multiple nuclear signalling factors. There appears to be reasonable evidence to conduct a randomized placebo controlled trial to establish efficacy or otherwise.
I take my (generic) multivitamins. Vitamin D is one of those. I'm not a perfect adherent.
Review today, leak tonight, announcement tomorrow.
FTFY.
docrobster
Free MemberI was reading that rapid response and the article it refers to yesterday, I think the jury is still out on vitamin d and covid.
However a lot of people in the uk are vitamin d deficient and should probably take it all winter. I have some in the cupboard I keep forgetting to take. 🙄
I think the main thing about vitamin d is that it's cheap and there's no likely downsides to taking a supplement. (you can have ill effects from really high levels but that's very rare). And as you say even if there's no covid benefits at all, there may be others for a lot of people in this dark island.
Sometimes, you need to prove a benefit to make it worth taking something but others, not so much.
Also,
"There's a new and deadly disease doing the rounds"
"Oh no"
"But it seems like you can improve your odds with a good and balanced diet, minimal hygeine, and regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle"
"OH NO"
I never expected a connection between Corona and John Major's love life.
https://twitter.com/Edwina_Currie/status/1339155190092607489
The only person who has brought child abuse into this thread is you. It’s certainly not been mentioned by the government as you have stated.
With respect that's not true as Loum said earlier.
Even more on the "back to school thread" but this is repeatedly brought up as a reason kids should be in school even by sensible STW'ers.
(Maybe a few want to raise their heads now?)
I’m not disagreeing with any of your other points about poverty, mental health, counter-intuitive rules and regulations.
So this is the fundamental... your statement was "putting education first" or something. (I'm not going back to quote it because exact words are unimportant and it's not a witch hunt).
This is the fundamental I'm challenging....They wrecked the GCE's that are the end of the day are the only really important days in the entire time spent at school. If that's on a sliding scale then the last week before XMAS has got to be near the bottom.
So, what's the big deal? Why are kids being sent to covid infected schools this week?
It’s certainly not been mentioned by the government as you have stated.
So again, what does Boris mean by "Safer at school"?
Forget the bollox... what does he mean by this to most people?
Is he referring to ROSPA stats? He probably is but that's NOT what he wants people to think in exactly the same way his "oven ready deal" apparently never explicitly referred to a trade deal but to the political declaration.
or if you prefer answer the other way, why are schools teaching classes of 1-2 children (or 10 min my childs case) why not just send secondary kids home for online classes they are old enough to look after themselves?
Why is there the binary self isolate or go into school and no other option?
It's not like my boy has any friends left in school, all close his friends are self isolating so what is he getting out of physical attendance. Assuming they are doing anything of value moving the entire class online is not only more efficient but the fairest?
I never expected a connection
You've got to hand it to her though... that's pretty funny.
or if you prefer answer the other way, why are schools teaching classes of 1-2 children (or 10 min my childs case) why not just send secondary kids home for online classes they are old enough to look after themselves?
That's the question I'd like answered. While it is true that having all kids in school, in a Covid safe environment is what we should aim for... what we really have (except in fee paying schools and in areas where the local authorities and schools are defying the government) in much of the country now is schools struggling to simultaneously teach on site and at home... with students at home getting a poor experience, and students on site risking catching the virus just in time for the first contact with their grandparents for months.
How do you use that killfile again folks?
If that’s on a sliding scale then the last week before XMAS has got to be near the bottom.
This x100, as if you are going to convince kids to put some hard work a week before Xmas.
@Nobeer You've read my mind
I'm sorry, I'm done with stevextc, so many valid points lost behind the other guff
Bollox. Have found this thread a great source of info (mainly!) this year. Just wanted to vent today. My mum (80+) is in hospital with covid (she acquired it in hospital!). Tested positive 11 day ago and only in past 24h started with symptoms, we thought she was one of the lucky asymptomatic ones.
Currently O2 at 85% and on supplementary oxygen, but next few days are gonna be a cliff hanger.
An absolute crap end to 2020 after we had been so very very careful not to let her catch it at home.
Much hugs to you CHB, lots of folks that age have came through, fingers crossed.🤞🏻
Sorry to hear that. Am hoping she pulls through.
Things are better now that they were so hoping for you.