1/ The Education Select Committee meeting this week relied on 4 witnesses depending on limited sources to justify the DfE current policies and they will try to use these to justify not improving safety measures in the future
Full look at the meeting here
Full look at the meeting here
https://twitter.com/karamballes/status/1351631020689416195?s=19
2/ Stock phrase answers used in the meeting and regularly repeated in the media
"Teachers at no greater risk than other workers"
"Community transmission"
"No evidence that..."
"Low transmission"
"Appropriate measures in place"
"Balance of risk"
These statements need examining
"Teachers at no greater risk than other workers"
"Community transmission"
"No evidence that..."
"Low transmission"
"Appropriate measures in place"
"Balance of risk"
These statements need examining
3/"Teachers at no greater risk"
First of all this ignores support staff and those based in the classroom like TAs do appear to be at greater risk than teachers.
This phrase is a quote from an ONS report done on risk in the workplace, many issues have been raised about the report
First of all this ignores support staff and those based in the classroom like TAs do appear to be at greater risk than teachers.
This phrase is a quote from an ONS report done on risk in the workplace, many issues have been raised about the report
4/ Complaints were lodged with the regulator regarding some of the methodology and how it was represented.
UK Statistics Authority has now responded again on this report, also the report covers a period before the new strain took off.
UK Statistics Authority has now responded again on this report, also the report covers a period before the new strain took off.
https://twitter.com/cyclingkev/status/1352586002209116162?s=19
5/ When international comparisons are made to show education workers are at no greater risk many in media do not point out that the UK government's approach to schools and covid is an outlier.
Still no masks in classrooms, despite a more infectious and now more deadly strain
Still no masks in classrooms, despite a more infectious and now more deadly strain
6/ Quite tricky to calculate risk to education workers in the UK,data is limited,FOIs are being told data isn't available, government won't even tell us how many have died. Aound 150 died up to June, nothing since then, but I think we will finally get new ONS report at some point
7/ NEU analysis of data this week shows greater risk, I appreciate better data is needed for a more accurate picture, why doesn't the government release it.
If they had proof they were right they'd publish it, I'd love something solid to ease my concerns
schoolsweek.co.uk/fact-check-are…
If they had proof they were right they'd publish it, I'd love something solid to ease my concerns
schoolsweek.co.uk/fact-check-are…
8/ Looking at local data obtained from a few councils also shows greater risk of infection in those areas.
tes.com/news/exclusive…
tes.com/news/exclusive…
9/ Early Years Alliance have just done a survey, the number of infections in Early Years since start of December, doesn't look safe to me
https://twitter.com/DanielHewittITV/status/1352319720595345411?s=19
10/ PHE shows cases still rising quickly for children in fully open nurseries while we arent seeing the same growth in older students as we did I December now there are less students in buildings 
11/ Latest PHE data shows the drop in outbreaks in secondary, a reduction but still considerable number in primary while fully open Special schools and Nurseries are cause for alarm
12/ ONS positivity surveillance data by age
13/ I find it difficult to believe that infections in students are mainly in the community when cases rise when schools are open, slow during half term, and now looking at age groups seem to be linked to number of students attending
Last term.
Last term.
14/ So government says no evidence of greater risk using a questional report, dismisses the data that appears to show risk but hasn't provided enough data, so there's no evidence to prove we aren't at greater risk either.
Should have data to answer this but aren't releasing it
Should have data to answer this but aren't releasing it
15/ ONS prevalence report, had some interesting findings, children are considerably more likely to bring infections into the household than other family members.
Doesn't really match the "low transmission" the Education Select Committee witnesses claimed
Doesn't really match the "low transmission" the Education Select Committee witnesses claimed
https://twitter.com/Dr2NisreenAlwan/status/1345661874302578689?s=19
16/ Looking at this the claims of no greater risk, low transmission, community transmission not school transmission, all seem to be phrases based on technicalities not reality, hiding behind a defence of no or unclear evidence.
17/ When they talk of risk it also appears that they are using a narrow definition of risk.
Long Covid is never mentioned by government when schools are discussed, for staff or students.
@long_recovery are worth checking out
Long Covid is never mentioned by government when schools are discussed, for staff or students.
@long_recovery are worth checking out
18/ I worry that the government choosing to have a tolerable level of infection and then repeatedly reacting too slowly could be creating a longer term health problem that could impact people and the NHS for years
https://twitter.com/Dr2NisreenAlwan/status/1352328791662751745?s=19
19/ We really don't understand yet what we are dealing with when it comes to Long Covid so how can the government comfortably claim they know risk is low?
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1350612168211910663?s=19
20/ And most of this thread hasn't taken into account the new strain, if its more deadly will it also cause more long covid.
Across the pond many accept transmission in schools is real.
Across the pond many accept transmission in schools is real.
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1346041403512664068?s=19
21/ Really does feel like the government and its client media are engaging in a historic level of gaslighting when it comes to safety in schools.
For more details on the ONS report the government is betting all its money on ⬇️
For more details on the ONS report the government is betting all its money on ⬇️
https://twitter.com/SarahDRasmussen/status/1352691034090852352?s=19
22/ A brief summary of gaslighting during the Autumn term
https://twitter.com/karamballes/status/1330439848868651008?s=19
23/23
But its predictable when a governmentappears to put the opinions of lobbyists above scientists in the midst of a pandemic.
bylinetimes.com/2021/01/21/par…
But its predictable when a governmentappears to put the opinions of lobbyists above scientists in the midst of a pandemic.
bylinetimes.com/2021/01/21/par…
24/ Couple of extra bits worth a read
Children are under tested in most countries compared to the rest of the population, data on children can be less reliable.
Children are under tested in most countries compared to the rest of the population, data on children can be less reliable.
https://twitter.com/Theresa_Chapple/status/1351024288187494407?s=19
26/ Ontario shows student infections outstripping other age groups
27/ Fascinating interview here from Germany
Was a mistake to think schools wouldn't have a role in transmission, the data from the UK is unequivocal, real questions regarding how disinformation on schools spread.
spiegel.de/international/…
Was a mistake to think schools wouldn't have a role in transmission, the data from the UK is unequivocal, real questions regarding how disinformation on schools spread.
spiegel.de/international/…
28/ Kevin and Mary's letter to Whitty and Halfon regarding the Education Select Committee
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