Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[BlueToff]

No i understand schools should be open for key worker's children (although how that is being abused is another story), i was referring to Special needs schools. The one im referring to and which my family member works at has full classes and social distancing is impossible due to the needs of some of the children. The only measure put in place is that classes don't mix and if one person tests positive then the whole class is sent home. The teachers are just getting on with it but why should they without adequate protection? Why if they aren't key worker children do they need to be in school? They are with their families on school holidays, weekends. evenings. I'm sorry but a brief period of their education should not trump the risk to human life.

I think the balance with special needs schools is that some children genuinely need the 'expert' care that they provide.

I remember seeing quite a few news clips in the first lockdown on the local news about special needs or disabled children really struggling at home. These are kids that need that routine and that safety net, for lack of a better word. That's not to say the parents can't give that or don't try, but there are other factors at play and I'm sure your family member would agree with that.

Schools and teachers should absolutely have adequate protection. I know the one that my friend works in, he has to wear a mask and/or visor all day. The kids have to wear masks when not sat in a classroom and obviously now that's easier to control with it being less children there. Is it on a school-to-school basis that it differs? That's not right, it should be uniform, but who is responsible for ensuring that? I imagine the DofE, but do schools have to buy their own PPE?

I don't know for sure, so I'm just asking the question. As far as I'm concerned, any teacher who has to go into school to work at any time should be provided with adequate PPE and that should be provided by the school, and subsidised by the DofE.

 

[BlueToff]

As far as i can tell (speaking to people who work there) it was down to nonchalance.

Unacceptable.

As in ignoring a test result?

Or did they get covid while on shift?

I'm not having a go, I just think it must be extremely hard to judge.

If someone has tested positive and then gone into work anyway, then that's obviously entirely different. Or felt ill but not bothered to do the test and gone into work.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

As expected. 30% more movement now than back in March.

UK population movement falls 59%, compared to -89% in March - Oxford COVID-19 Monitor | University of Oxford

The latest data from Oxford’s COVID-19 Impact Monitor shows the January lockdown has, so far, had one third less national impact on movement than the March shutdown. The figures demonstrate that some regions are still moving at more than 50% of pre-pandemic levels, despite the tough restrictions...

www.ox.ac.uk

 

[Bruce Wayne]

COVID lockdowns: spring will see finances hit as economic impact kicks in

The UK would not be surprising if pressure mounted for the government to engage in wholesale reform of the social security system. It’s largely an inadequate buffer from shocks on household finances.

theconversation.com

 

[The binman chronicles]

As expected. 30% more movement now than back in March.

UK population movement falls 59%, compared to -89% in March - Oxford COVID-19 Monitor | University of Oxford

The latest data from Oxford’s COVID-19 Impact Monitor shows the January lockdown has, so far, had one third less national impact on movement than the March shutdown. The figures demonstrate that some regions are still moving at more than 50% of pre-pandemic levels, despite the tough restrictions...

www.ox.ac.uk

This leaves me bemused considering how much worse this time around is and we are still in depths of winter where the coughing and sneezing and time spent indoors is still months away from being over. Tie that with how long it took us to get back to normal after the March lockdown there is definite ammunition to say this should be more severe than that one. A total closure apart from the most essential roles needs to happen for a few weeks else we could be left in this state of purgatory until practically everyone has been vaccinated towards the end of summer/autumn.

I would rather 3 weeks of you can't go out than 3 months of this halfway house where you are not supposed to go out, but we can't really do much if you do.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

In Japan, more people died from suicide last month than from Covid in all of 2020

More people died from suicide in Japan in October than succumbed to Covid-19 all year. And more women are taking their own lives, as they lose part-time work and take on the bulk of family responsibilities at home.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Deleted member 48881]

Children all over the world have had their education severely disrupted this year, as schools struggle to cope with repeated closures and re-openings, and the transition, if it’s even an option, to online schooling. Disadvantaged children, however, have been worst-hit by the emergency measures. In part three of our look back at the effect that COVID-19 has had on the world, we focus on the education crisis provoked by the pandemic.​

The virus that shut down the world: Education in crisis

Children all over the world have had their education severely disrupted this year, as schools struggle to cope with repeated closures and re-openings, and the transition, if it’s even an option, to online schooling. Disadvantaged children, however, have been worst-hit by the emergency measures...

news.un.org

 

[PhilM]

Yes, they are.

Anybody who isn't a key worker cannot send their kids to school. Even a lot of people who do class as key workers will not be sending their kids to school.

What is the evidence to support your claim?

Yes they can. My wife works in schools and the key worker and vulnerable list is quite wide, which means they're currently on between 30%-60% attendance.

There are quite a few schools around the country looking at 70% above because the spectrum of who can attend. The key wording from the DfE is

"Those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study."

Without enough devices to provide to children so they can work at home, many schools are having an influx of pupils coming in, with % creeping up.

In terms of @Diogenes the Cynic, my wife says if they have an EHCP, which they'll will have if in a SEND school, they can go in so could easily be 100%.

 

[arminisgod]

We’ve got thousands of them. We offer them to people without.
If someone’s asthma is so bad they can’t wear a mask for 15 mins whilst they pick up some shopping shouldn’t they really be shielding anyway ?
I haven’t got asthma and none of my family do, so it’s something I know nothing about.

I have asthma. Wearing a mask makes zero difference. Now if your asthma is severe then it may but you would also be extremely vulnerable and shouldn't be out and about

 

[Brennan]

So apparently the China vaccine is only 50% efficacious.

The data must be wrong. Western propaganda.

 

[PhilM]

So apparently the China vaccine is only 50% efficacious.

The data must be wrong. Western propaganda.

50% of the population would be protected from illness but China report zero cases. Maybe I’m a cynic, but the numbers don’t add up.

 

[COYBL25]

So apparently the China vaccine is only 50% efficacious.

The data must be wrong. Western propaganda.

Ahem, Cold War propaganda.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

So apparently the China vaccine is only 50% efficacious.

The data must be wrong. Western propaganda.

The only thing I would say is it's very precise reporting 50%. Given when it's the American German or are own vaccine, a range is given over 2 doses. If the main stream media want to avoid a accusations of bias it's need to report with the same definitions clearly identified. Not doing so will and does lead to misinformation.

Ingesting listening listening to Van Tam just now, UK longer spacing is down to supply. COVID won't be going away with vaccine. How long vaccine works who knows.

 

[davek]

I have asthma. Wearing a mask makes zero difference. Now if your asthma is severe then it may but you would also be extremely vulnerable and shouldn't be out and about

I dont believe a word this feller says.

 

[davek]

In Japan, more people died from suicide last month than from Covid in all of 2020

More people died from suicide in Japan in October than succumbed to Covid-19 all year. And more women are taking their own lives, as they lose part-time work and take on the bulk of family responsibilities at home.

edition.cnn.com

Because their government and people - like all nations in that part of the world - act responsibly.