Thread by @AlisonGeorge10

@dgurdasani1, you are a legend 👏!

PLEASE please listen to this from 07.20-40.30.
You will not regret it.

It clearly demonstrates the dangers of those without any CLINICAL knowledge & expertise being able to make crucial decisions that effect so many lives.
1/15 a thread.

https://twitter.com/GabrielScally/status/1360510574656946176

Questions for the MODELLERS & MPs...

Have you actually seen a child poorly w/ #COVID19? It can be extremely frightening for both child & parents.

Have you seen/spoken to the parents of any children suffering w/ #LongCovid?
Why not listen to what parents & Drs are saying? 2/

#COVID19 is a multi-system disease with w/ many negative outcomes other than hospitalisation or death.

IT IS NOT FLU!

#COVID19 IS NOT FLU!

#LongCovid in both adults & children can be v debilitating & there’s currently v little knowledge about the long term prognosis. 3/.

Even using the most optimistic interpretation of “the data”, if 10-20% of those w/ #COVID19 get #LongCovid, many 1000s of children will have & many more will get #LongCovid.

How can any civilised society say that is ok?
I for one, don’t want ANY CHILD to suffer like that. 4/

#COVIDisAirborne - experts & SO MANY DRS have been literally shouting in every way possible that EFFECTIVE MITIGATION MUST INCLUDE improved #Ventilation, #Masks 😷for all but the very young & ⬇️close contact w/ others INDOORS.

Hand washing & surface cleaning is NOT ENOUGH!
5/

As @dgurdasani1 rightly points out - LARGE BUBBLES of up to 300 pupils (plus their siblings & parents) are COMPLETE NONSENSE....they are not BUBBLES at all!

@educationgovuk’s “SYSTEM OF CONTROLS” is utterly WOEFUL.

Don’t take my word for it, read it.
@StephenNolan
6/

Next week is half term across the UK.
THERE IS NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE!

All but the youngest children CAN #WearAMask INDOORS IN SCHOOL!
They really can. Look across Europe & the rest of the world.

ALL STAFF should wear #MasksIndoors😷in ALL AREAS.
7/

Use #blendedlearning, rotas, extra empty spaces to ⬇️class sizes & create #SafeSpacesToLearn.

Increase staffing levels by the widespread use of #SupplyTeachers.

Ensure EVERY CHILD has digital access with #laptops & adequate #Wifi. 8/

Read all the clear, pragmatic & safe advice from @IndependentSage @ReicherStephen on the phased return to full opening & the @NEU’s EDUCATION RECOVERY PLAN.

In the face of highly transmissible #CovidVariants this is NOT the moment for complacency or recklessness. 9/

If @GavinWilliamson, @educationgovuk & @BorisJohnson allow (& actively encourage) the FULL opening of all schools & #earlyyears settings after half term WITHOUT EFFECTIVE MITIGATION for an #AIRBORNE 🦠, the outcome is entirely predictable. 10/

Transmission IN SCHOOLS will ⬆️again, more children & staff will catch/spread #coronavirus, & more individuals, families ( AND communities) will suffer... AGAIN.

PEOPLE spread #coronavirus....We all agree on that.

#COVIDisAirborne - UK leaders, & others, MUST CATCH UP!
11/

MODELLING can only tell us so much.
In the absence of the CLINICAL picture & real HUMAN stories it is a 1-dimensional way of assessing RISK.

Risk of hospitalisation & death are obviously v important.
But risk of long term MORBIDITY & loss of QOL MUST be factored in too.
12/

For those at the back-

#COVID19 IS NOT FLU.

Acute #COVID can be very frightening & serious in both adults & children. It can be fatal.

10-20% of Adults AND children get #LongCovid.

#COVIDisAirborne - EFFECTIVE MITIGATION is needed URGENTLY in ALL INDOOR SETTINGS NOW. 13/

Thank you @dgurdasani1 for your incredible expertise & ongoing refusal to be silenced.

And thank you @StephenNolan for a great discussion & for taking the concerns of so many of us seriously...I hope you got some sleep😉!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE THIS VITAL INFORMATION! 14/

#COVIDisAirborne #MakeSchoolsSafe #VentilationMatters #MasksSaveLives #earlyyearsmatters #handsfacespacereplace
#SafeSpacesToLearn #LongCovidKids @NEUnion @EYAlliance
@GabrielScally @MaryBoustedNEU @annelongfield @HoppySaul @ChildrensComm @Parents_Utd @HeadteacherNews @tes END