Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[Slarty66]

That's a yes then ......https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55358968

[mavhc]

exam year pupils to come back 4th jan, test everyone twice

everyone else work remotely, then come in one week later

 

pupils with a positive pcr test can forego extra testing for 90 days

 

Test involves pupils doing swab themselves, then adults who've been through online training processing will process them, takes on average 39 minutes.

 

All schools with pupils 11 or older can get free lateral flow tests.

 

After initial tests staff to be tested every week. If someone tests positive then test everyone in close contact every day

[mikeprice]

Apparently these test will not take up any time from teacher - as they are already very busy

 

no real mention of other staff

 

the articles I have read have said that the tests will be done and the admin done - by volunteers and agency staff

 

so - Heads have between now and 4th Jan to organise these volunteers and get agency staff for the rest

 

I presume any Heads out there are not planning on having a Christmas - and have some magical way of rounding up volunteers and getting hold of appropriate staff

 

and, of course, they will have to have DBS checks - which clearly take very little time to get

 

and get permission slips out and back

 

 

(several sentences deleted to avoid political bias - I'm in enough trouble from down South as it is!!!!!!)

[LeMarchand]

Wondering if I could get Tom Cruise to visit my schools and pop into the supermarket before I visit. WARNING! VERY SWEARY RANT.

 

https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mission-impossible-7-tom-cruise-rage-audio-leak/

[elsiegee40]

Apparently these test will not take up any time from teacher - as they are already very busy

 

no real mention of other staff

 

the articles I have read have said that the tests will be done and the admin done - by volunteers and agency staff

 

so - Heads have between now and 4th Jan to organise these volunteers and get agency staff for the rest

 

I presume any Heads out there are not planning on having a Christmas - and have some magical way of rounding up volunteers and getting hold of appropriate staff

 

and, of course, they will have to have DBS checks - which clearly take very little time to get

 

and get permission slips out and back

 

 

(several sentences deleted to avoid political bias - I'm in enough trouble from down South as it is!!!!!!)

 

It’s OK the DfE has said governors can do it.

 

Those volunteers who have jobs to hold down and are supposed to be hands off in schools [emoji849]

 

Governors are not pleased and the NGA has issued a very to the point statement on the subject.

[elsiegee40]

 

The Education Unions, the NGA, the Association of Colleges and the Church of England Education Office have issued an unprecedented joint statement and advice to their members

 

(Please don’t turn this into political discussion )

Edited December 18, 2020 by elsiegee40

[elsiegee40]

Son, girlfriend and flatmate tested positive for coronavirus at the start of last week. They have been cooperating with Track and Trace, but are now starting to feel harassed by them.

 

Twelve calls just to him in the last 3 days. He says the calls start at 8am

 

“Who is awake at 8am when they’re ill?”

 

The last one asked how he was passing the time in lockdown and what I was looking forward to doing when he’s free.

 

His response...

 

1. “Answering the phone to track and trace”

 

2 “I’m looking forward to no more sodding calls”

Edited December 19, 2020 by elsiegee40

[elsiegee40]

The DfE further endears itself to schools

DfE staff offered £1k bonuses to work on school testing prep over Christmas (SchoolsWeek)

[Steve21]

Well seeing we now have a Wales, Scotland and England live briefing planned today, I'm gonna place a bet most Xmas plans are all changing!

 

Steve

[elsiegee40]

Christmas just got cancelled

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by elsiegee40

[kennysarmy]

Gutted for lots but personally makes no difference to me

[Steve21]

Gutted for lots but personally makes no difference to me

 

Yep, we cancelled our plans a few weeks back when it wasn’t coming down (we had some in case things did magically get better!)

 

Back to just our own household, at least we have all the food bought ready, can imagine a lot of late night shopping in Tier 4!

 

Steve

[LeMarchand]

A stay at home order is being issued to residents - although those who have to travel for education or work may continue to do so.

 

How the heck does this make sense?

[Garacesh]

How the heck does this make sense?

 

Unless your job or your education needs you to go somewhere else, don't go somewhere else.

Seems pretty straightforward?

[LeMarchand]

Unless your job or your education needs you to go somewhere else, don't go somewhere else.

Seems pretty straightforward?

 

I meant: If things are so serious that everyone should be staying at home, how is it still safe to go to school and work?

 

As for the new Xmas regs, I already have heard of people who don't see why they should change their plans to (say) stay with relatives in T4 and then go to spend time with relatives elsewhere.

[6Foot2]

I meant: If things are so serious that everyone should be staying at home, how is it still safe to go to school and work?

 

As for the new Xmas regs, I already have heard of people who don't see why they should change their plans to (say) stay with relatives in T4 and then go to spend time with relatives elsewhere.

We had plans to go and see my in-laws in Norfolk and later to spend Christmas Day with my brother and his daughter. None of that will happen now.

 

I hope others can do the same. It really isn't much of a sacrifice for the hope of future Christmases, birthdays etc.

[elsiegee40]

Had an email from the gym saying they’re closed from 8.30pm tonight.

 

And from the butcher saying they’re open every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and that Christmas orders are not refundable and cannot be reduced. However they are all freezable

[Devontechie]

So we have just had the shortest time in tier 3 ever! We go to tier 4 at midnight!

[Ditto]

On the going to work and/or school, it is an additional risk, but I guess a complete national shutdown is too unpalatable in terms of economic consequences which will include non-covid health consequences. Sadly, there are no easy answers and we all have our own feelings about the decisions and the consequences. For me, it now means the my wife's parents won't be visiting and staying the night as we are Tier 4. It removes the tricky situation where I had to ask my wife to ask the in-laws not to go to a church service the day before. In spite of the venue claiming to be covid secure, and I'm sure they would do everything possible to be safe, the idea of them visiting indoors with up to 100 others the day before was for me a step too far. It would have impinged on my visiting even more elderly parents post Xmas bubble. The whole thing is very tough, but as much as possible I'm trying to see and respect everyone's alternative viewpoint. I'm data analyst by profession and studiously remain up to date with the numbers - I saw this coming (and Lockdown 2.0) well in advance of the announcement. Some of my family prefer not to follow the detail and are annoyed by my forensic approach! My optimistic side prefers to regard the current situation as a postponement of Xmas, not a cancellation. I also remain very hopeful about the vaccine, and others soon to follow, having a game-changing impact next year.

[Ditto]

I've just realised I won't be able to go to the posh card shop for my wife's Xmas card. Anyone know what the score is with barbers/hairdressers - I'm already pretty hippy style!

[Devontechie]

I've just realised I won't be able to go to the posh card shop for my wife's Xmas card. Anyone know what the score is with barbers/hairdressers - I'm already pretty hippy style!

Depends where you live. Tier 4 they close tonight. Others tiers they are open

[Ditto]

So we have just had the shortest time in tier 3 ever! We go to tier 4 at midnight!

Yep, me too! And my local area has a rolling rate of 58.4 with 6 cases in the 7 days to 14 December.

[Devontechie]

Yep, me too! And my local area has a rolling rate of 58.4 with 6 cases in the 7 days to 14 December.

Our 7 day infection rate as of last night was currently 678.8! We had 628 cases in the 7 days!

[3s-gtech]

We just went out to grab a takeaway and pop to Tesco. It was quiet (30 minutes after the announcement that all of Wales goes into Tier 4 at midnight). Half an hour later, the traffic was starting to build. I suspect it’ll be mad tonight.

[elsiegee40]

Our 7 day infection rate as of last night was currently 678.8! We had 628 cases in the 7 days!

 

We are a mere 332 in this bit of Kent.

 

I had my haircut on Tuesday and Mr gee40 had his yesterday. Phew!