Lockdown easing in England

[heywood]

I think that there may be other factors which make Denmark a model for actions
Denmark
Confirmed cases 11.962
Recovered 10.792
Deaths 593

England (I have used that, as the proposal is about English schools)
Confirmed Cases 150,000
Recovered -
Deaths 29, 673

It is clearly a very different situation.

The English model seems to be based on the Danish model used in the beginning. The R rate then in Denmark was 0.6-0.9
In my area over the weekend, it was confirmed by scientists to be over 1.0 but this was denied by the Health Secretary yesterday.

Today, my relative’s school took in Year 6 children. Only half the cohort wanted to return. They are in two groups occupying 2 rooms.
If the remainder of Year 6 return, that will be another two rooms.
The key workers’ children, who have been in school all the time, occupy a further two classrooms.

That is following government guidelines. The beginning and end of the sessions is staggered so that the groups and parents don’t mix.  Lunch is eaten in the classroom and is sandwiches provided by the school.

[jillruss]

Why is this country stuck on the 2 metre distance rule? As far as I have read, other countries are observing 1 or, at the most, 1.5 metres. Why do we have to be different?

I know 1 metre difference doesn't sound much but when you're calculating a social distancing radius for a room full of kids, its a hell of a lot.

Llwyd, have you any idea why the early start for autumn term was dismissed so readily in Wales? Teachers or politicians?

If this country sticks to the 2 metre rule, I can't see anything changing when we do get to September, unless of course we get lucky and the virus has gone by then. I was feeling optimistic after a couple of days with death numbers in two digits but I see we were back up into the 300s today, though I've thought for a long time that these statistics are so hit and miss as to be misleading and pretty useless as a measurement of what's going on.

I agree with Biggles50, kids themselves don't seem to bother when they're socialising and, apart from a few exceptions, the virus has pretty much left children alone. The government has done such a good job in frightening the hell out of all of us when it was probably only a small portion of us who needed to take care.

Nothing this government has done in the last couple of months has made much sense to me - and now we have people coming into the country being asked to self isolate for 14 days when a) most of them won't do it ; b) its virtually impossible to police, and c) its 3 months too late. We have a track and trace system which, as far as I can make out, is not functioning, and now this face mask nonsense when its pretty much accepted that they don't do much good and will probably cause more harm than good by emboldening people who think they're safe if they wear one.

We don't seem to be able to deal with anything sensibly anymore.

i think we should all move to the Isle of Man - that'll teach them for being so damn smug!!

[Viktoria]

In Denmark I am pretty sure school starting age is six or even seven.
Ours us four.
At that stage of their lives that is a big difference.
Better able to keep distances, better immunity, etc etc.
I don’t think I would send a four year old of mine to school.
I know ,people have to work and other factors, easy to say but very difficult to know what to do for the best.
Viktoria.

[guest189040]

One thing about the online schooling taking place at the moment is just how much co-ordinating of lesson content is actually taking place?

That is, is each school / academy / district doing their own thing?

[Viktoria]

Messages all the time re testing, but no info as to where tests are being done.
Would you have to travel,on public transport given that you get tested if you suspect you have CoronaVirus.?
If you don’t drive how else?
The mind boggles.
Daughter in Suffolk, as far as she is aware there is a testing centre in Cambridge, not aware of anything nearer.
Not to say there isn’t but information not readily available.
 Mind you she has just re opened a section of her business so has enough to think of .
Viktoria.

[Guy Etchells]

Why is this country stuck on the 2 metre distance rule? As far as I have read, other countries are observing 1 or, at the most, 1.5 metres. Why do we have to be different?

I know 1 metre difference doesn't sound much but when you're calculating a social distancing radius for a room full of kids, its a hell of a lot.

With regards the distance of two metres it has been explained on various occasions why this was chosen rather than 1 metre.

Here is the BBC version by David Shukman Science editor -

"In a study published in the medical journal The Lancet, scientists evaluated recent research into how the coronavirus can spread.

They conclude that keeping at least 1m from other people could be the best way to limit the chances of infection.
The risk of being infected is estimated to be 13% within 1m, but only 3% beyond that distance.
And the study says that for every extra metre of distance up to 3m, the risk is further reduced by half."

However that is only part of the equation as not only is distance important but also the longer you spend in close proximity with an infected person, the bigger the risk.

Scientists advising the UK government say that spending six seconds at a distance of 1m from someone is the same as spending one minute at a distance of 2m.

Being exposed to someone coughing is riskier. Being 2m away from a cough carries the same risk as someone talking to you for 30 minutes at the same distance.contact.

If that research is accurate then the compromise Canada, Spain and the UK take is sensible as it takes into account variations due to time & distance.

Cheers
Guy

[arthurk]

I also see lots and lots of problems ahead re teachers grading students' GCSE and A level results. Parents will undoubtedly be up in arms if they think their child has been badly done to - and teachers will be accused (rightly or wrongly) of favouritism. They are only human and will have those pupils they like and those they don't.

Its too late now - it would be unfair to suddenly confront pupils with exams they thought weren't going to take place but I really don't see why GCSEs couldn't be taken in the autumn term - if the child has left school they can surely return to sit a few exams?

According to the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52944057):

Any pupils unhappy with their grades will be able to sit the actual exam in October or November.

Why is this country stuck on the 2 metre distance rule? As far as I have read, other countries are observing 1 or, at the most, 1.5 metres. Why do we have to be different?

I know 1 metre difference doesn't sound much but when you're calculating a social distancing radius for a room full of kids, its a hell of a lot.

I suspect one reason might be that however law-abiding the English claim to be, we often have a tendency to do our own thing, ignore rules we don't like and generally push the boundaries. So with a 1 metre rule, people are likely to end up more like 60cm apart; with 2 metres we might see around 1.5 metres. It's less effective than 2 metres, but an awful lot better than 60cm.

[jillruss]

Guy, I respect your right to have an opinion which is different from mine but I'd be ever so grateful if you'd stop being quite so patronising.

I almost felt as if you'd donned your gown and mortarboard, before you started your last supercilious post. Despite rumours to the contrary, I'm not a complete moron and I did know the 'history' of the 2 metre rule. I was questioning its efficacy.

Did you used to be a teacher or lecturer? I always find most of them tend to talk down to you.

Cheers,
Jill

[groom]

Apparently the distance also depends on your position. So if you are talking to someone when you are facing, them 2 metres is considered the safest, however if you are standing next to each other and facing the same way, 1 metre is probably quite safe. So it could well be possible to have children back at school, all facing the front - rather than in groups, sitting a metre apart.