Schools and Covid 19 (part 5) **Mod warnings in OP**

Crazy stuff going on with the HSE and Schools from what I can see, there was an outbreak in one of our boy's classes at school school, we were notified over the weekend, on Monday he was identified by the school as a close contact (same pod), school advised accordingly, we all went for a test on Monday (Tuesday evening all came back clear), had our first text from the HSE on Wednesday just advising about the pod and not much else, we haven't heard a thing since (Friday now), the school has been great but they advise following HSE guidance (none!), have the HSE completely abandoned the schools or are they just that far behind?

Doesn't sound like anything done wrong to be honest from the HSE or the school. Close contact isolates for 10 days if not vaccinated and gets 2 tests, everyone else goes about their business as usual

If your vaccinated then there's no need for you to get a test, only required if you show symptoms. Assuming the child is u12 (correct me if wrong) only they would have been required to get a test.

HSE guidance is all available online

And I raise you over a dozen who were all clear! It's more about how all of this is being managed and a level of caution that is probably overzealous. It's definitely not something you'd want to see throughout the school year.

This is the worry for us at the moment, with a new born in the house we were a little relieved the first round came back clear but still anxious about the second batch.

I'm not looking for hand holding, thanks, just some guidance that's all, we had several questions that aren't answered on the website, the school clearly advised that the HSE would be in contact and that they would be the ones to offer guidance, so we waited for that to happen, it didn't, they haven't made any communication about any test, we arranged the first ourselves immediately for our own reasons, we're planning on arranging the second ourselves but if they text in the meantime that'd be great, but it's lousy communication on their part imo, if this is anywhere near as serious as they make out then I certainly would expect a personal contact; text or whatever with a number to call or directions to the relevant webpage etc.

I'm sorry but what the actual ****... as if principals don't have it hard enough at the moment, now they're beinh reprimanded for looking out for their students. Let alone the fact that these "visits" Dr Collins claims take place are actually phone calls. This bullshit needs calling out.

Quick update on our experience: spoke with another parent from the same pod, HSE made contact yesterday advising on what to do etc, answered questions and are arranging test, they’re that far behind, still waiting on our contact but at least they are doing something.

Where does the 33 kids in hospital with covid and 4 in ICU figures come from?

I think that's how many admissions there have been over the past 14 days, as per the 14 day hpsc report. 4 kids currently in hospital as per the 8pm HSE report, none in ICU.

There are kids being hospitalised and being admitted to ICU, they are not immune as some people believe. You have some people saying they shouldn't be testing in school, some saying they should, some saying kids shouldn't have to isolate unless symptomatic, other saying they should. Definitely seems to be 2 sides to it and I don't think it's an easy fix. Hopefully as before it's just the back to school bump in testing causing it and the decline of community cases will start to have an impact on schools.

The easy fix is to require only positive cases to isolate.

The young have sacrificed enough already. Let them have their education.

4 children in hospital who are currently positive for covid, possibly in for something else,caught covid in hospital, possibly high risk, possibly in there solely due to covid, there should be clear information.

Surely you understand that close contacts self isolate to try prevent spread? There are vulnerable children ( as well as teachers/family members too), or should they be excluded from education so as not to inconvenience the others?

The fact is flu is more dangerous to young children than Covid. It also puts children in hospital, as does the winter vomiting bug. But we didn’t make them miss school for 14 days because of it. Children are more likely to be struck by lightning than die of a Covid. Flu is much more of a ‘threat’ to them.

The current system will not work, too many disruptions in its current form. People will stop going for tests. Anyone with symptoms should stay home, the rest should be allowed to continue their education.

Vaccinated children won’t change anything, they won’t get any benefit. Just plenty of risks. It won’t stop spread, variants , or Covid from circulating. This is the fact of the matter.

Teachers and family members should be vaccinated, aside from some edge cases.

I don't have an answer for vulnerable children, but close contact restrictions are failing to make schools safe for them now.

We currently have a maximally vaccinated adult population, and a good proportion of over 12s. It's early autumn. If we're not going to relax close contact restrictions now, when will be a good time? Do we just plough on indefinitely? Wait for vaccine approval for under 12s? Close eyes and hope it goes away?