Q:When are mitigations not mitigations?
A:When they are optional in schools.
1/ When schools returned in 09/2020 the focus was on 'Hands' and surfaces.
There was no desire by @GOVUK to implement 'Face'masks.
And no extra 'Space' available,
Nightingale schools dismissed.
A:When they are optional in schools.
1/ When schools returned in 09/2020 the focus was on 'Hands' and surfaces.
There was no desire by @GOVUK to implement 'Face'masks.
And no extra 'Space' available,
Nightingale schools dismissed.
2/ "All children must be in school." we were told "There is little evidence of Covid transmission in school.".
* They were right because in the Summer term very few children had returned for face to face teaching and children spent lots of time outside and in tiny bubbles.
* They were right because in the Summer term very few children had returned for face to face teaching and children spent lots of time outside and in tiny bubbles.
3/ Cases started to rise rapidly in children.
A fire break at halfterm dismissed. Schools went back and cases continued to accelerate upwards.
So in early November we partially added 'Face'masks to the equation.
But, ONLY
in communal areas,
in Secondary
AND
optionally.
A fire break at halfterm dismissed. Schools went back and cases continued to accelerate upwards.
So in early November we partially added 'Face'masks to the equation.
But, ONLY
in communal areas,
in Secondary
AND
optionally.
4/ School staff told to keep windows and doors open. Very few classrooms have mechanical ventilation systems.
Staff/children did close windows as the weather turned cold. Some rooms have no openable windows.
Metering not carried out/enforced.
Ventilation not funded.
Staff/children did close windows as the weather turned cold. Some rooms have no openable windows.
Metering not carried out/enforced.
Ventilation not funded.
5/ As the Christmas holidays start a new mitigation is announced:
📯 Lateral flow devices (LFDs)📯
We hear they are unreliable, but they might help to remove some asymptomatic cases. Other issues on attached thread.
Most importantly, they are OPTIONAL.
📯 Lateral flow devices (LFDs)📯
We hear they are unreliable, but they might help to remove some asymptomatic cases. Other issues on attached thread.
Most importantly, they are OPTIONAL.
https://twitter.com/lara_wong/status/1369419045393600516?s=19
6/ When schools reopen in March, LFDs come online.
✅Teachers *can* use them.
✅Secondary children *can* use them.
✅Parents *can* use them
❌Primary children ignored.
Worse than that, some are actively told NOT to test even with +ve tests in class.
✅Teachers *can* use them.
✅Secondary children *can* use them.
✅Parents *can* use them
❌Primary children ignored.
Worse than that, some are actively told NOT to test even with +ve tests in class.
https://twitter.com/SarahDRasmussen/status/1377296228644487184?s=19
7/ 'Face'masks added to classrooms. Are schools coming into line with other policies, finally?
✅Secondary
❌Primary
Masks in schools are OPTIONAL unlike any other public space.
Some HTs enforce rules, medical evidence needed.
Others don't enforce at all.
✅Secondary
❌Primary
Masks in schools are OPTIONAL unlike any other public space.
Some HTs enforce rules, medical evidence needed.
Others don't enforce at all.
8/ Facemasks contentious in Primary schools.
Members have reported
😷 Being told their children can't wear them.
😷 Teachers removing masks during 'high risk' all school assemblies
😷 Children singled out and given nicknames by teaching staff
😷 Kids being bullied/coughed at
Members have reported
😷 Being told their children can't wear them.
😷 Teachers removing masks during 'high risk' all school assemblies
😷 Children singled out and given nicknames by teaching staff
😷 Kids being bullied/coughed at
9/We have a Headteacher lottery at Secondary, and more so at Primary, when it comes to mask wearing. Families at high risk are finding protection hit & miss.
The WHO have said 6-11yo can wear masks using a 'risk based approach'.
Some doing it already:
The WHO have said 6-11yo can wear masks using a 'risk based approach'.
Some doing it already:
https://twitter.com/Dr2NisreenAlwan/status/1362868005764542470?s=19
10/We can't plan for the government's version of herd immunity in the young with a virus which adapts. Circulation of disease is not limited to children. Cases now in adult population (parents/teachers).
CV/CEV adults & children are being hospitalised.
CV/CEV adults & children are being hospitalised.
https://twitter.com/0bj3ctivity/status/1376157725026086913?s=20
11/ Plus it leads to seemingly long term systemic damage.
Follow @LongCovidKids and you will see the consequences to previously fit and healthy children.
If children are in school appropriate mitigations are *essential*. This is a healthcare timebomb.
Follow @LongCovidKids and you will see the consequences to previously fit and healthy children.
If children are in school appropriate mitigations are *essential*. This is a healthcare timebomb.
https://twitter.com/Dr2NisreenAlwan/status/1377563114707808261?s=20
12/ Four days ago a new national infographic was launched.
'Hands - Face - Space - Fresh Air'
Research is now showing that fresh air flow in schools is insufficient. Unsurprisingly cases in both child and parent populations are are rising.
'Hands - Face - Space - Fresh Air'
Research is now showing that fresh air flow in schools is insufficient. Unsurprisingly cases in both child and parent populations are are rising.
13/ As we head into Spring 🌱
outdoor temperatures 🌡️ ⬆️
and winds 💨 ⬇️ .
These are the drivers of natural ventilation.
This is a huge problem for schools who were experiencing rapidly increasing cases in Dec when 🌡️s were 🥶 and winds 💨💨💨💨.
outdoor temperatures 🌡️ ⬆️
and winds 💨 ⬇️ .
These are the drivers of natural ventilation.
This is a huge problem for schools who were experiencing rapidly increasing cases in Dec when 🌡️s were 🥶 and winds 💨💨💨💨.
14/ Schools need to monitor for exhaled air in a room. We can use CO2 to model this and have an idea of whether ventilation is sufficient.
More CO2 = ⬆️ risk from Covid
NDIR CO2 monitoring need to be in *every* public space (including schools).
More CO2 = ⬆️ risk from Covid
NDIR CO2 monitoring need to be in *every* public space (including schools).
https://twitter.com/mishwoz/status/1377327984084942851?s=19
15/ In April 2020 SAGE said levels should be <800ppm in areas with "potential for high aerosol generation" (rooms with 31+ people in!).
Research in Irish Schools found CO2 levels >800ppm 82% of the time
@jljcolorado aerosols expert recomendeds <700ppm.
Research in Irish Schools found CO2 levels >800ppm 82% of the time
@jljcolorado aerosols expert recomendeds <700ppm.
https://twitter.com/Ziggy_Tec_IoT/status/1376806681481510912?s=19
16/ Since UK and Irish school aren't significantly different we can, with a high degree of certainty, identify that they are likely to be unsafe.
With Natural Ventilation insufficient schools need to be assessed by expert Engineers. CO2 monitoring & HEPA filters installed.
With Natural Ventilation insufficient schools need to be assessed by expert Engineers. CO2 monitoring & HEPA filters installed.
17/ Specifically, and this is *important*, trained mechanical engineers should be assessing ventilation in buildings as a 'competent person'.
Headteachers aren't qualified to identify schools as Covid-Secure. This is not simply hand hygiene and cleaning!
Headteachers aren't qualified to identify schools as Covid-Secure. This is not simply hand hygiene and cleaning!
https://twitter.com/mishwoz/status/1365229556395868162?s=19
18/ As for those classrooms with no openable windows? 🚫 🪟
They need to be urgently assessed / written off until they can be rectified.
They need to be urgently assessed / written off until they can be rectified.
19/ HEPA filters can clean the air removing aerosolised virus particles.
This will involve a large investment from the government. But even when children are vaccinated (a long way off) we remain at risk from new variants.
We need to plan long term.
This will involve a large investment from the government. But even when children are vaccinated (a long way off) we remain at risk from new variants.
We need to plan long term.
20/ So to recap Fresh Air. We need:
✅Mechanical Engineer assessments
✅CO2 Monitors to alert if unsafe
✅HEPA Filters
❌Classrooms unopenable windows
❌HTs determining Covid-Security
✅Mechanical Engineer assessments
✅CO2 Monitors to alert if unsafe
✅HEPA Filters
❌Classrooms unopenable windows
❌HTs determining Covid-Security
21/ Let's briefly return to masks in classrooms. We were informed it was a short-term measure which would be reassessed.
Not an #AprilFools joke. It appears that there is a distinct possibility that the government may withdraw even OPTIONAL support.
bylinetimes.com/2021/04/01/sec…
Not an #AprilFools joke. It appears that there is a distinct possibility that the government may withdraw even OPTIONAL support.
bylinetimes.com/2021/04/01/sec…
22/ So we skipped past 'Hands' but let's quickly address cleaning.
Hands should be cleaned but surfaces, fomites, are less of a concern.
nature.com/articles/d4158…
We need to focus on the elephant in the room. #COVIDisAirborne and redirect effort/funds.
Hands should be cleaned but surfaces, fomites, are less of a concern.
nature.com/articles/d4158…
We need to focus on the elephant in the room. #COVIDisAirborne and redirect effort/funds.
https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1376942923728646145?s=19
23/ Reducing transmission helps everyone not just the Vulnerable who should "look after themselves".
Children, far from being of limited transmission risk have become reservoirs of infection which fuel cases in the community. Schools need to be Covid-Secure if we continue F2F.
Children, far from being of limited transmission risk have become reservoirs of infection which fuel cases in the community. Schools need to be Covid-Secure if we continue F2F.
24/ Children will continue to be infected without vaccination on the horizon.
Partially vaccinated / immunocompromised individuals if exposed might provide a selection pressure to generate new strains. Especially those exposed to children in schools.
Sending us all backwards!
Partially vaccinated / immunocompromised individuals if exposed might provide a selection pressure to generate new strains. Especially those exposed to children in schools.
Sending us all backwards!
25/ So, we need the government to start to apply it's own logic to schools.
Scientists are doing their bit to inform. We need more than an infographic.
We need funding and action.
All of the 4 tenets *must* be fulfilled. 1of4 isn't good enough.
30,000 deaths NOT 'inevitable'.
Scientists are doing their bit to inform. We need more than an infographic.
We need funding and action.
All of the 4 tenets *must* be fulfilled. 1of4 isn't good enough.
30,000 deaths NOT 'inevitable'.
END
(Thank you for sticking with it!)
(Thank you for sticking with it!)
Intermittent issue blocking #6.
Not contentious - just facts.
Not contentious - just facts.
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