[News] The UK’s “Three Stage” Exit Strategy To Ease The Coronavirus Lockdown

[Stumpy Tim]

So how does that work for schools then? How many people can be infected in a couple of hours in a school?

Let's get them back, but no close contact. Hmm.

I fail to see where anyone has asked for schools to go back. I asked where it would fit in.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Banks have already said they are unlikely to extend the 3 months.

I’m certain High St banks will flexible. It’s makes no sense for them to be otherwise.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I fail to see where anyone has asked for schools to go back. I asked where it would fit in.

I realise that. I was contrasting the two posts as there was possible tension between the ideas. I sympathise with your question.

 

[jonnyrovers]

I wonder where schools fit into this. In terms of getting back to normality, I think for many that is more important than restaurants and pubs - not for owners of, and workers at, pubs and restaurants of course

The reason schools were kept open for so long was to delay the impact on the national workforce. They were closed as part of the wider strategy to enable social distancing and keep people at home. The welfare of children and their education were not motives.

If schools were to reopen it would likely be in order to release the national workforce from their childcare duties. It's unlikely the motive will be education related as recovering the economy will take priority.

Basically, write off your kids education for the foreseeable future as the best we can expect from schools is something resembling childcare.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I realise that. I was contrasting the two posts as there was possible tension between the ideas. I sympathise with your question.

Fair enough. Must have misunderstood. Time to crack open a bottle of red I think

 

[Notters]

Simon Calder, yes I know he would sat this, but he’s far more optimistic about tourism/travel within the UK and to certain EU nations from May, June at the latest.

Just heard him interviewed on LBC and he said he had no idea when

 

[A1X]

I really can't see anything happening as early as "early to mid-May". I'd be amazed if anything happens before June 1st.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

The reason schools were kept open for so long was to delay the impact on the national workforce. They were closed as part of the wider strategy to enable social distancing and keep people at home. The welfare of children and their education were not motives.

If schools were to reopen it would likely be in order to release the national workforce from their childcare duties. It's unlikely the motive will be education related as recovering the economy will take priority.

Basically, write off your kids education for the foreseeable future as the best we can expect from schools is something resembling childcare.

Unfortunately I think that will depend on the school. Our kids go back on Tuesday, have all been given Teams accounts, and have a schedule of learning. If they go back to school, they will be taught. Other schools I´m sure you´re right, and other schools will be better than the one my kids go to.

You would think schools would open up when bars and restaurants do, though there are other economic advantages to schools opening. Tough call for whoever makes it

 

[Guinness Boy]

So how does that work for schools then? How many people can be infected in a couple of hours in a school?

Let's get them back, but no close contact. Hmm.

I think the only way would be to vaccinate the children at the same time as the most vulnerable, either that or schooling has to have a radical makeover in its approach such as maybe having just 50% of kids in school and they do alternate days, all children checked daily for temperature on arrival and at time of leaving, teaching outdoors. Maybe children attend just one day a week in even smaller groups and have four days at home doing projects or learning online. No easy solutions.

A lot of kids seem to be asymptomatic. In addition they can get temperatures as a result of other diseases. Vaccination is probably the only sure fire way but you'd be vaccinating against the spread rather than necessarily against those likely to die (though, obviously, kids could pass on to the elderly etc). There's a pretty tough call between vaccinating them and those in high risk categories who are shielding.

But even if you vaccinated the kids, at Primary and Infant level, the issue would be the parents. Half the Dorises on the school run at my daughter's Primary couldn't even spell social distancing, let alone carry it out. On the Friday that was the last day the kids were in school they were all standing next to each other nattering, hugging each other, letting their snot encrusted offspring run and scooter directly at other parents and planning PLAYDATES for the following week.

You can vaccinate the kid but you can't talk sense into your average halfwit.

 

[Weststander]

Just heard him interviewed on LBC and he said he had no idea when

I’ve heard many of his other interviews on LBC and 5live this week. He’s paints a positive picture, but then adds the proviso “But I could be wrong”.

Was that his only uttering in the latest interview?

 

[Notters]

what is this COVID-19 App?

Covid symptom tracker.

Not sure if his point on Arun District though as this is the number of people contributing.

 

[vegster]

A lot of kids seem to be asymptomatic. In addition they can get temperatures as a result of other diseases. Vaccination is probably the only sure fire way but you'd be vaccinating against the spread rather than necessarily against those likely to die (though, obviously, kids could pass on to the elderly etc). There's a pretty tough call between vaccinating them and those in high risk categories who are shielding.

But even if you vaccinated the kids, at Primary and Infant level, the issue would be the parents. Half the Dorises on the school run at my daughter's Primary couldn't even spell social distancing, let alone carry it out. On the Friday that was the last day the kids were in school they were all standing next to each other nattering, hugging each other, letting their snot encrusted offspring run and scooter directly at other parents and planning PLAYDATES for the following week.

You can vaccinate the kid but you can't talk sense into your average halfwit.

Yes, vaccinate the kid so they don't bring it home hopefully. As for the parents, yes, its almost impossible to knock any sense in to them.

 

[jonnyrovers]

Unfortunately I think that will depend on the school. Our kids go back on Tuesday, have all been given Teams accounts, and have a schedule of learning. If they go back to school, they will be taught. Other schools I´m sure you´re right, and other schools will be better than the one my kids go to.

You would think schools would open up when bars and restaurants do, though there are other economic advantages to schools opening. Tough call for whoever makes it

100% agree.

My eldest two are at the same highschool and logon for lessons every day for 6 hours. I suppose what I'm saying is that their education won't be the reason they are sent back to school. As you've pointed out there are many economic advantages to schools opening. The two that spring to mind are the huge education industrial complex businesses (catering, transport, facilities, supplies), and not least the release of working parents back to their jobs.

As several other posters have said, the balance between aiding economic recovery and keeping us all safe will be a tough one to strike.

Stay safe everyone.

 

[vegster]

I’m certain High St banks will flexible. It’s makes no sense for them to be otherwise.

Might be an idea to transfer to a mortgage with RBS, as it's 60% owned by the government they may act as a guarantor while the length of the repayment time is extended.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Were loose

 

[1066familyman]

Were loose

Think we already have.

Predicted highest number of Covid 19 deaths in Europe.

Woeful record of getting our citizens back from abroad, compared to most other major European nations.

We're still the sick man of Europe it seems.

And I'm currently watching a re run of our Italia '90 semi. I don't think that ended well either.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

The article states that schools reopening would be scheduled for the first phase.

As others have pointed out, that decision will have very little to do with getting children’s education back on track. The main driver will be to free up parents to get back to work/contributing to the economy.

IMO it’s a risky first step as the impact of reopening schools has big social implications. Many parents will assume it means they can get back to their normal daily life, including congregating en masse at the start and end of school days.

 

[Machiavelli]

It won't be the government developing the app. You'd hope they'd sub-contract it to someone decent, rather than the cheapest going, given how much other money has been spunked.

You offering?

 

[Guinness Boy]

You offering?

Good God no. While I work in software I work for one of the cheap ones

 

[Bozza]

An interesting read.

A little disappointed in the option to relax lockdown by age bands, as I assume that it would younger people who would be released first, so that anyone in their 50s or 60s will be left at home for a lot longer.

Also a little worried about the app requirement given that most Government IT is at best useless.

I was assuming it’s the joint Apple/Google development that’s been in the news for the past week or so.


https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/15/tech/google-apple-coronavirus-tracker/index.html