Thread by @VixL

I've seen righteous concern about the data graphs shared at the start of the briefings, including this one. Looks completely overwhelming. Let me explain why it is important. THREAD 1/6

https://twitter.com/theAliceRoberts/status/1322699546074488838

This is a heat map. The X axis along the bottom is time. The Y is age groups - losely identified as kids, youth, middle aged and elderly.

The darker the colour, the higher the number of positive tests. 2/6

So - what does it show? That the virus is driven by the teens and young adults. It got a hold when the universities went back. In the North West, North East and Yorkshire it got a hold and gradually spread to the older generations - which is the most deadly consequence. 3/6

What action should we take? LOCKDOWN THE SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES for at least a month. Then reopen with blended learning. That is reduced mixing through smaller classes, rota systems, working from home via distance learning for at least 50% of the time. 4/6

Unless we protect the schools, teachers and young people from opportunities to increase infection the virus will continue to spread to our older population and deaths will continue to increase to tragic proportions. 5/6

It is *not good enough* for Boris Johnson to demand schools remain open, without a longer term PLAN for blended learning to ensure that it is possible. 6/6

Graph with axes, to back up the Thread above.