Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01

Teacher2020 · 19-02-2021 06:05PM

I believe the government have absolutely zero intention of opening the schools on the 1st March - they keep saying it will be based on public health advice. They have already got away with blaming the unions - now it is time to blame NPHET. It is all about public opinion - Norma wants people to think that she is trying to open the schools but the big bad unions and/or NPHET won't let her!

19-02-2021 06:09PM

Stateofyou wrote: »

Like my 27 year old cousin?

It impacts everyone. And older, or more vulnerable people deserve to live a life too. Is this where we're at now? Having to point that out? I hope not. But published data has shown it clearly has big impacts across all age groups. Vulnerable people are particularly at risk, including older people to athsma (or whatever). Not just deaths, but quality of life. Our health experts have come out and publicly stated it can affect anyone and no one should think the restrictions don't apply to them. Who knows what it might do long term.

Have you seen the massive fb support groups for people with long covid? I joined one once to see what it was showing basically. And I had to leave for my own mental health because it was shocking/depressing to see the real impact on a lot of younger people. People my age. And I assure you, I'm not that old.

Older, not children in other words.

Everyone at this stage know many people who have been infected. Post viral issues do occur. Not that frequently thankfully. Extremely rare in children. No study says otherwise

19-02-2021 06:11PM

Teacher2020 wrote: »

I believe the government have absolutely zero intention of opening the schools on the 1st March - they keep saying it will be based on public health advice. They have already got away with blaming the unions - now it is time to blame NPHET. It is all about public opinion - Norma wants people to think that she is trying to open the schools but the big bad unions and/or NPHET won't let her!

https://www.newstalk.com/news/school-re-openings-nphet-gives-green-light-to-phased-return-in-march-1152802

Lisha · 19-02-2021 06:11PM

Teacher2020 wrote: »

I believe the government have absolutely zero intention of opening the schools on the 1st March - they keep saying it will be based on public health advice. They have already got away with blaming the unions - now it is time to blame NPHET. It is all about public opinion - Norma wants people to think that she is trying to open the schools but the big bad unions and/or NPHET won't let her!

I think you are right. And this stupid carry on of kite flying and drip feeding information ahead of full and factual announcements is shocking bad behaviour.

Very few will be back In School before Easter. And I don’t see too much happening after Easter either aside from leaving certs and fifth years.

.

km79 · 19-02-2021 06:29PM

http://twitter.com/sharonmlynch/status/1362815751548268546

KerryConnor · 19-02-2021 06:30PM

According to this Guardian article the virus may be now most prevalent among primary sch aged children in UK because those 20%: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/18/covid-infections-in-england-fall-by-two-thirds-but-spreading-fastest-among-young

Deleted User wrote: »

NPHET only issued their guidance not to open schools on the 5th of January.

The 22nd was for LC and special needs only.

Approx 20% of uk children have continued to attend school. Their infection rates are still falling

Stateofyou · 19-02-2021 07:06PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Older, not children in other words.

Everyone at this stage know many people who have been infected. Post viral issues do occur. Not that frequently thankfully. Extremely rare in children. No study says otherwise

Just because children are more likely to be asymptomatic, does not negate their concerning role in transmitting the virus, as Mike Ryan said last year "at least as well as adults (10yr olds).

It's the parents who don't need it. Or the grandparents they live with/provide childcare. Or maybe someone more vulnerable. And the wider community, especially in light of more asymptomatic spread. Children getting massively ill really isn't the only point here. But some kids will, and due to school being closed since the new virus has run rampant, we don't really know what's going to happen.

The whole point or question is, what is being done to mitigate for those risks?

19-02-2021 07:28PM

KerryConnor wrote: »

According to this Guardian article the virus may be now most prevalent among primary sch aged children in UK because those 20%: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/18/covid-infections-in-england-fall-by-two-thirds-but-spreading-fastest-among-young

If cases are falling slower in one group because they are more mobile, the relative prevalence in that group will increase, even though the numbers in all groups are falling

khalessi · 19-02-2021 07:30PM

Deleted User wrote: »

If cases are falling slower in one group because they are more mobile, the relative prevalence in that group will increase, even though the numbers in all groups are falling

In UK they are referring to it as the epidemic within an epidemic

combat14 · 19-02-2021 07:33PM

with 90% of cases here being of the new far more transmissable and possibly more dangerous uk kent variant of covid what additional measures have the government taken to stop the spread inside schools once they reopen ... ?

i think we all would agree that is a reasonable question

Marty Bird · 19-02-2021 07:37PM

Teacher2020 wrote: »

I believe the government have absolutely zero intention of opening the schools on the 1st March - they keep saying it will be based on public health advice. They have already got away with blaming the unions - now it is time to blame NPHET. It is all about public opinion - Norma wants people to think that she is trying to open the schools but the big bad unions and/or NPHET won't let her!

No NPHET have advised them that schools can open on the 1st March.

KerryConnor · 19-02-2021 07:38PM

Yes agree... but it still shows that if 20% of 5 - 12 s are in school and that much mingling increases the prevalence in that group to one of the highest of all age groups.... it becomes a worry what will happen when 100% are back.
I'm saying this as someone who can't wait for schools to go back.

Deleted User wrote: »

If cases are falling slower in one group because they are more mobile, the relative prevalence in that group will increase, even though the numbers in all groups are falling

khalessi · 19-02-2021 07:42PM

combat14 wrote: »

with 90% of cases here being of the new far more transmissable and possibly more dangerous uk kent variant of covid what additional measures have the government taken to stop the spread inside schools once they reopen ... ?

i think we all would agree that is a reasonable question

NOthing so far, they reissued advice re ventilation (open close windows and claimed it was new, suggested masks for staff who want them and social distance and wash hands.

They have barely acknowledged it is aerosol apread

C__MC · 19-02-2021 07:56PM

Smart enough move only taking 5th and 6th years in , bigger rooms can be used for the month of March

Still can’t believe that third years are done for the year ; really dismisses the significance of the JC hugely

C__MC · 19-02-2021 08:01PM

Have Unions agreed to a March 1st return ?’

KerryConnor · 19-02-2021 08:04PM

This is something I don't understand as there won't be room for more social distancing from what i can see... rooms are all the same size in schools (in every school i've every being in anyway) unless they use a hall or something which isn't as practical as no IWB etc...
So the plan is to bring back about 35% of kids across primary, secondary but same amount of teachers so they'll still be 30 ish to a room.

If they'd brought back 50/50 across the whole school system, every child would get a 2 or 3 days a week and the rooms would only be half full.

C__MC wrote: »

Smart enough move only taking 5th and 6th years in , bigger rooms can be used for the month of March

Still can’t believe that third years are done for the year ; really dismisses the significance of the JC hugely

khalessi · 19-02-2021 08:05PM

KerryConnor wrote: »

This is something I don't understand as there won't be room for more social distancing from what i can see... rooms are all the same size in schools (in every school i've every being in anyway) unless they use a hall or something which isn't as practical as no IWB etc...
So the plan is to bring back about 35% of kids across primary, secondary but same amount of teachers so they'll still be 30 ish to a room.

If they'd brought back 50/50 across the whole school system, every child would get a 2 or 3 days a week and the rooms would only be half full.

But that would be thinking and also saying that schools arent safe and remember Norma is a good minister (new mantra)

Aph2016 · 19-02-2021 08:10PM

It's astounding how children and their education have become such collateral damage with these insane lockdowns. I simply cannot fathom how there hasn't been uproar at how a year of education has essentially been lost.

yrreg0850 · 19-02-2021 08:17PM

C__MC wrote: »

Have Unions agreed to a March 1st return ?’

Why should unions have a say?

You won't see the unions representing the hospitality sector or construction industry objecting to a return to work.

C__MC · 19-02-2021 08:24PM

yrreg0850 wrote: »

Why should unions have a say?

You won't see the unions representing the hospitality sector or construction industry objecting to a return to work.

Sorry to break it to you but unions play a huge role in these decisions cast your mind back to Jan 5th...

khalessi · 19-02-2021 08:26PM

C__MC wrote: »

Sorry to break it to you but unions play a huge role in these decisions cast your mind back to Jan 5th...

Oh yeah when Norma went on a solo run got casitgated by Taoiseach who said unions were correct

Icyseanfitz · 19-02-2021 08:45PM

C__MC wrote: »

Have Unions agreed to a March 1st return ?’

the government havnt even agreed to it from the looks of it

Van.Bosch · 19-02-2021 08:48PM

Aph2016 wrote: »

It's astounding how children and their education have become such collateral damage with these insane lockdowns. I simply cannot fathom how there hasn't been uproar at how a year of education has essentially been lost.

How have they lost a year? Schools were fully open Sept - Dec?

Icyseanfitz · 19-02-2021 08:50PM

Van.Bosch wrote: »

How have they lost a year? Schools were fully open Sept - Dec?

also the seriousness of a once in a hundred year pandemic seems to be lost on a lot of people

19-02-2021 08:53PM

C__MC wrote: »

Sorry to break it to you but unions play a huge role in these decisions cast your mind back to Jan 5th...

Here is the letter from Jan 5th that actually caused the change in approach

https://assets.gov.ie/118212/b00522b8-7deb-4f61-9c1c-9c8df6185a00.pdf

Zaney · 19-02-2021 09:16PM

Aph2016 wrote: »

It's astounding how children and their education have become such collateral damage with these insane lockdowns. I simply cannot fathom how there hasn't been uproar at how a year of education has essentially been lost.

I can’t believe how easy it is to replace education with predicted grades. That children and young adults are supposed to be able to transition from a school situation where exams are impossible due to lockdown to third level where remote learning and testing is practiced during lockdown. Last year’s leaving cert students are now first year college students - are they getting predicted grades to progress to second year?

penny piper · 19-02-2021 09:18PM

yrreg0850 wrote: »

Why should unions have a say?

You won't see the unions representing the hospitality sector or construction industry objecting to a return to work.

Why shouldn't unions have a say? they are there to protect worker's rights/health/safety issues....

No comparison to the hospitality sector or construction workers either...

yrreg0850 · 19-02-2021 10:10PM

penny piper wrote: »

Why shouldn't unions have a say? they are there to protect worker's rights/health/safety issues....

No comparison to the hospitality sector or construction workers either...

These unions are just as concerned about their members rights.

Their members are even more vulnerable than teachers, in that they are interacting with adults who, it is proved are more liable to transmit than children.

But, their unions will not prevent them returning to work as soon as the government allows.

History Queen · 19-02-2021 10:16PM

yrreg0850 wrote: »

These unions are just as concerned about their members rights.

Their members are even more vulnerable than teachers, in that they are interacting with adults who, it is proved are more liable to transmit than children.

But, their unions will not prevent them returning to work as soon as the government allows.

Can only speak for my own union but TUI have said they are happy to go back in line with public health advice (I suspect the other unions have said similar). What's your issue with that?

khalessi · 19-02-2021 10:36PM

yrreg0850 wrote: »

These unions are just as concerned about their members rights.

Their members are even more vulnerable than teachers, in that they are interacting with adults who, it is proved are more liable to transmit than children.

But, their unions will not prevent them returning to work as soon as the government allows.

Hospitality sector have been unfairly treated during lockdown but they have limited numbers allowed indoors (schools dont), masks on staff and customers unless eating (Masks on teachers none primary) Social distancing (none in schools), Enhanced ventilation(Open close windowsin schools) Time limit for customers(Schools 5 1/2 hours in small space)

Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

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Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01