Essex council, at a virtual emergency meeting, has decided to keep all schools closed for now. Many other LA's are expected to follow according to reports tonight.

You mean they will follow Brighton & Hove who made this decision yesterday.

Yeah Chris if you do decide to go, I would advise you to treat it as a high risk zone ie. use mask and face shield when you go, don't touch your face on the way back and completely change your clothes and shower when you get home as it can land on surfaces.

 

 

Yes, thanks.

To be honest, I haven’t spoken with them. I’m on holiday, despite all the stress I feel right now. I’m officially at work tomorrow so will discuss things then. I have had an email from my union rep and she says she’s not happy to work in school whilst all students are in but will happily be there if only key worker and vulnerable children are in. I feel the same. She also advised not to take action yet as we will not be fully open this week regardless, which is in line with how I feel.

 

It’s more important for teachers in schools that are set to fully reopen this week. I’m also waiting to see what my Head has to say about it all.

I think our head is opening only for vulnerable/key workers/those that can't access online even though this isn't what the government has said to do. It keeps everyone safe, so the staff have backed it. It has given me peace of mind at least and we have a training day tomorrow to sort out plans/ensure we are ready to be delivering remotely from Tuesday. Staff will all still be in the building but a vastly reduced number of children.

 

I hope your return gives you clarity too about the forthcoming week(s)!

I think our head is opening only for vulnerable/key workers/those that can't access online even though this isn't what the government has said to do. It keeps everyone safe, so the staff have backed it. It has given me peace of mind at least and we have a training day tomorrow to sort out plans/ensure we are ready to be delivering remotely from Tuesday. Staff will all still be in the building but a vastly reduced number of children.

 

I hope your return gives you clarity too about the forthcoming week(s)!

 

I think that’s the right thing to do. We’re open for vulnerable/key worker children from Wed-Fri this week and working from home at the start of the week. We’re supposed to be finding out about who will be back the week after by Thursday but I think things may change before then.

Brigend currently has 855 cases per 100,000. It has a population density of ~578 people per square km. There are ~175 or so counties in the UK with a population density similar or more.

 

And what do you mean it's not that bad across the whole of the south east?! :lol: Lots of areas are now at 600-800 cases per 100,000 with quite a few 900+ now and it's only increasing. It can easily spread like wildfire in less densely populated areas than London.

 

But that is one area and not the whole of the South East. The ranges are all different according to the local area, so yes it can get bad of course it can but it is unlikely the whole of the North West will get up to 900 per 100,000 because it is a large geographical area with dense and spare populations. London is unique in that it is easily connected, densely populated and such a large volume of people in a small geographical area in comparison.

 

The rates will continue to increase for days now. The damage was done in the build up and with Christmas. Similar picture across the whole of Europe too. We are all collectively screwed, although some places more than others.

Good thread summarising where we are at the moment:

 

@1345834332183785472

 

 

Key points:

• over *70,000* people who were tested in England on 29th December tested positive. This is *not* because there were more tests on that day.
• London has been in Tier 4 for 2 weeks - Biggest worry: there is *no sign* that tier 4 is working.
• There are now almost 25,000 people with Covid-19 in English hospitals - 32% more than the April peak.
• We are still, at best, 2 weeks from peak - and that's *if* decisive action is taken *now*.
• Admissions are rising everywhere. Steeper than they did in the autumn. No sign of slowdown - even in London, 2 weeks after tier 4 started.

@1345842511600824323

 

Hardly a surprise - he predicted 2020 would be a 'fantstic year' for the UK, told everyone he was shaking hands with Covid patients and then contracted it ended up in ICU and almost died. He is a complete CLOWN.

Good thread summarising where we are at the moment:

 

@1345834332183785472

Key points:

• over *70,000* people who were tested in England on 29th December tested positive. This is *not* because there were more tests on that day.
• London has been in Tier 4 for 2 weeks - Biggest worry: there is *no sign* that tier 4 is working.
• There are now almost 25,000 people with Covid-19 in English hospitals - 32% more than the April peak.
• We are still, at best, 2 weeks from peak - and that's *if* decisive action is taken *now*.
• Admissions are rising everywhere. Steeper than they did in the autumn. No sign of slowdown - even in London, 2 weeks after tier 4 started.

@1345842511600824323

 

Hardly a surprise - he predicted 2020 would be a 'fantstic year' for the UK, told everyone he was shaking hands with Covid patients and then contracted it ended up in ICU and almost died. He is a complete CLOWN.

 

Boris Johnson is an absolute terrible leader. I'd say what he's doing now is just as bad as any of the other countries that denied how bad the situation was. It all sounds very dire to me and here he is saying that were in a better position now than in the autumn. Are his aides lying to him? Is the data wrong? Is he a complete idiot? Are the government lying?

I hate the UK government, seriously.

Interested to see what "tougher measures" could possibly be introduced aside from closing schools.

 

Not allowed to leave your bedroom?

Hardly a surprise - he predicted 2020 would be a 'fantstic year' for the UK, told everyone he was shaking hands with Covid patients and then contracted it ended up in ICU and almost died. He is a complete CLOWN.

 

Never thought I would say this but the DAILY STAR of all newspapers has been impressive with its front pages recently!

 

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-star/20210104

Edited January 4, 20214 yr by Road Salt Mixer

The Metro Newspaper (is that a thing in England?) Is reporting a full lockdown for Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon is apparently to make the announcement in 10 minutes.

Interested to see what "tougher measures" could possibly be introduced aside from closing schools.

 

Not allowed to leave your bedroom?

 

Whatever they are, they will be a load of rubbish. The Government have lost the people.

 

Only way out to get compliance is a national lockdown akin to the one of March last year, anything else will just fall on deaf ears. I'm against another lockdown, but it's likely to be the only way as the Tiers have minimal effect with such high levels of the virus.

 

Whatever they are, they will be a load of rubbish. The Government have lost the people.

 

Only way out to get compliance is a national lockdown akin to the one of March last year, anything else will just fall on deaf ears. I'm against another lockdown, but it's likely to be the only way as the Tiers have minimal effect with such high levels of the virus.

 

March style lockdown for Scotland confirmed until the end of January.

Yeah schools shut to Feb 1st

 

 

I should be fine to fly out of this mess I hope

Imagine how different things would have been with a socialist Corbyn government following the science! As is, the absolute incompetence of this crony government has given us three lockdowns now and one of the worst situations in the world.

Whatever they are, they will be a load of rubbish. The Government have lost the people.

 

Only way out to get compliance is a national lockdown akin to the one of March last year, anything else will just fall on deaf ears. I'm against another lockdown, but it's likely to be the only way as the Tiers have minimal effect with such high levels of the virus.

 

National lockdown will do nowt either. Wasnt the November one put in place to save Christmas?

 

Tier 4 is basically lockdown anyway and it's done absolutely nothing in London.

 

If they aren't gonna close schools then all we can do is pray this vaccine brings down the hospitalisations and this mutant South African variation doesn't f*** everything up. Otherwise there is NO way out.

Imagine how different things would have been with a socialist Corbyn government following the science! As is, the absolute incompetence of this crony government has given us three lockdowns now and one of the worst situations in the world.

 

lol bait (though of course you know I agree they'd be in a better position, it's just an unknowable hypothetical)

 

everything with this government is 2 weeks behind what it needs to be and it's always weak half-measures when a strong response earlier with vigilance and inspiration would have done far better. The Conservatives turning out to be completely incompetent at even basic leadership skills (something normally present in politicians no matter the colour) is something that I didn't see coming a year ago.

National lockdown will do nowt either. Wasnt the November one put in place to save Christmas?

 

The November lockdown did a good job of bringing the infection rate down across the country apart from the South East where the new variant was starting to spread in schools and opening up London in tier 2 at the start of December was nothing short of complete incompetence when they knew (no matter how much they pretend they didn't) that a new variant was beginning to spread in that part of the country.

National lockdown will do nowt either. Wasnt the November one put in place to save Christmas?

 

Tier 4 is basically lockdown anyway and it's done absolutely nothing in London.

 

If they aren't gonna close schools then all we can do is pray this vaccine brings down the hospitalisations and this mutant South African variation doesn't f*** everything up. Otherwise there is NO way out.

 

I’m afraid a lockdown isn’t a lockdown if schools are open. It’s why things failed before Christmas.

 

I wish Drakeford would do something but Labour seem to want to compete with the Tories rather than be sensible. Today he said closing schools should be a ‘last resort’. Are we not at the last resort yet? It’s not like anything else is happening.

@1346110314224340993

 

Another announcement briefed to their pals beforehand.

 

Schools closed.

Edited January 4, 20214 yr by blacksquare

I thought he said schools were safe this morning? Moron.