Schools to close again.. Covid

Trouble is. In a normal class of 30 they'd go red in about 15 minutes.

You lost me at "Let's go out there and make a difference"

What? There is a molecular clock in all organisms, they mutate at a particular rate. Viruses have no feelings, never minds about a mask. Bottlenecks can cause a change in a population but the mutation rate is still the same, there is simply more death in the unadapted or unmutated population. This is very basic evolutionary theory. You seem to be confusing bottlenecks and mutation rates. A bottleneck can cause what looks like rapid evolution but if actually just aggressive selection, not the same thing at all.

Mutation rates can be altered by mutagen, agents like uv radiation, radioactive compounds ect. A mask is going to cause no change to any mutation rate, it will simple help prevent transmission. A mutation may arise that contravenes this (unlikely given there is a physical barrier in place, and all viruses have a minimum particle size) but it wasn't caused by the mask, its just takes advantage of the mask being there to be more successful. The virus will mutate regardless of masks being around or not. This is dangerous rhetoric.

some will be forced to close with so many teachers and subs off.

I would assume you have a fair idea that my degree (and more) is in this area. Biological sciences (I'm not going to be more specific, it would almost certainly identify me) and postgrad work also in this area.

But to be clear, if I didn't have a degree in this area it wouldn't make my explaination any less correct, science is funny like that.

Jesus you'd want to tell that to the lads who developed the measles and mumps vaccine........other highly contagious airborne viruses we got to herd immunity with using vaccines........

Although with people like you spreading incorrect rhetoric like that I can see why we are getting breakthrough cases in communities with low vaccination rates now

Is herd immunity even an actual possibility with a corona virus? Won't it just keep changing and evolving near indefinitely so long as it can transmit? (Hopefully evolving to something much the same as the common cold)

The sooner close contacts without symptoms are able to come back to work the better tbh. This is becoming unworkable and we are days away from having to ask some year groups to remain home. I am also finding it REALLY hard to maintain a work/life balance when there are so many isolating students to cater to as well. School internet ridiculously unreliable so live stream to them is not an option so I am here every evening doing pre-recorded explanations of what we will do in class the next day to have ready to send to them each morning.

In fairness, the kids are delighted with it and can't thank me enough - they truly are learning from home - but I can't keep doing this - it's crazy. I know someone will find fault with me for saying this, but I do have a life and a hobby and my doggies outside of work and I need to make time for them too.

Actually for us, today was basically a normal day. Numbers near normal, very few staff out. Looks like this has blown through our school on the run up to Christmas, during the holidays (was sad the amount of kids telling me they had to isolate for the holidays) and had it the week we came back.

To me, the unofficial strategy seems to be let omicron just take everyone and be done with it.

Would it not be better at this stsgr for your school to shut and teach online?

That way the positive kids who are well enough to hh and the self isolating students and staff could work away?

Gosh that sounds like a tough environment to work in. Our experience is much like Valeyards, most staff and students are back with a couple of kids missing from most classes and a few staff still out but nothing we can't manage. Hope things improve for ye soon.

Anybody have the latest/most relevant guidelines for teachers who get Covid?

In particular, if a second-level teacher tests positive, how many days before he/she can return to the classroom? Also, if the result is from a self-administered positive antigen test, how do we get this "confirmed"/medical cert or whatever so that we are covered for the school absence?

It’s the HSE who should advise on this . The principal won’t know and can’t ask about an individuals vaccination status. It is also dependant on age if it’s an antigen test. Again the principal can’t ask this .

Its fairly clear on hse website . They do it out step by step for the various scenarios.