Schools in Europe closing again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure what you’re saying. We should keep schools closed now, while cases here are falling, because the variants from other countries will eventually take over?

Only if we want to stop the spread of covid

But schools arent driving covid spread when everyone wears masks and distances (hybrid format).

Parties, gatherings, church, restaurants, etc are spreading covid. So if you are actually worried about this variant, you should focus on shutting those things down.

I absolutely agree with you. We should do a soft lockdown: no parties, no family gatherings, no church, no indoor dining, curbside service at all stores; mandatory surgical masks/N95s indoors for all essential workers, and no travel more than 5 miles from your home except for essential activities.

If we did all those things, and committed to testing/contact tracing/quarantine... I think we could keep or reopen daycares and K-3 at least, and not have things get out of control.

[Anonymous]

Greece is the latest addition to the lockdown/closed schools list (for Athens only):

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-greece/greece-pm-orders-full-lockdown-in-athens-after-surge-in-covid-cases-idUSA8N2IN01G?utm_source=reddit.com

ATHENS, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday announced a full lockdown in the capital Athens to curb a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

The new restrictions in Athens, where half of the country’s population of 11 million lives, include the closure of non-essential shops and schools from Feb. 11 until the end of the month, Mitsotakis said in a televised address to the nation

Countrywide lockdown not ruled out; would be response to thread of UK variant

https://www.ekathimerini.com/262125/article/ekathimerini/news/eody-chief-warns-infectious-uk-covid-19-variant-could-become-dominant-virus-in-greece

[Anonymous]

Germany to stay in lockdown, for fear of virus mutations

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-set-to-stay-in-lockdown-for-fear-of-virus-mutations-draft-document/a-56514995

German officials are considering lifting some measures in the coming weeks, but the shutdown will continue for now, DW learned on Tuesday. Federal and state representatives are set to announce their decision tomorrow.

"Considering the virus mutations, the steps to lift the restrictions must come carefully and gradually in order to avoid risking the successful curbing of infections," Germany's top officials are expected to say, according to a draft statement obtained by DW.

The document foresees the country continuing its shutdown until March.

The authorities see reopening of day care centers and schools as a priority, the document states. They remain "optimistic that all citizens would be offered vaccination by the end of summer at the latest."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure what you’re saying. We should keep schools closed now, while cases here are falling, because the variants from other countries will eventually take over?

Only if we want to stop the spread of covid

But schools arent driving covid spread when everyone wears masks and distances (hybrid format).

Parties, gatherings, church, restaurants, etc are spreading covid. So if you are actually worried about this variant, you should focus on shutting those things down.

I absolutely agree with you. We should do a soft lockdown: no parties, no family gatherings, no church, no indoor dining, curbside service at all stores; mandatory surgical masks/N95s indoors for all essential workers, and no travel more than 5 miles from your home except for essential activities.

If we did all those things, and committed to testing/contact tracing/quarantine... I think we could keep or reopen daycares and K-3 at least, and not have things get out of control.

Advocating for a (local? national?) lockdown when cases are dropping is a nonstarter. It's hard to believe that you are posting in good faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Advocating for a (local? national?) lockdown when cases are dropping is a nonstarter. It's hard to believe that you are posting in good faith.

Oh, lordy. I am aware it is a non-starter. It's what we should be doing, not what we will do.

It's so funny though, when the CDC is putting out messaging like this:



It makes it seem like we should be trying to slow the spread, not keep reopening things.

I just don't understand our country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure what you’re saying. We should keep schools closed now, while cases here are falling, because the variants from other countries will eventually take over?

Only if we want to stop the spread of covid

But schools arent driving covid spread when everyone wears masks and distances (hybrid format).

Parties, gatherings, church, restaurants, etc are spreading covid. So if you are actually worried about this variant, you should focus on shutting those things down.

I absolutely agree with you. We should do a soft lockdown: no parties, no family gatherings, no church, no indoor dining, curbside service at all stores; mandatory surgical masks/N95s indoors for all essential workers, and no travel more than 5 miles from your home except for essential activities.

If we did all those things, and committed to testing/contact tracing/quarantine... I think we could keep or reopen daycares and K-3 at least, and not have things get out of control.

Daycare and K-3 already open where I am. So, what’s the reason for your lockdown again?

[Anonymous]

I said keep or reopen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Advocating for a (local? national?) lockdown when cases are dropping is a nonstarter. It's hard to believe that you are posting in good faith.

Oh, lordy. I am aware it is a non-starter. It's what we should be doing, not what we will do.

It's so funny though, when the CDC is putting out messaging like this:



It makes it seem like we should be trying to slow the spread, not keep reopening things.

I just don't understand our country.

It says wear a mask and distance. Not lockdown and close schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Advocating for a (local? national?) lockdown when cases are dropping is a nonstarter. It's hard to believe that you are posting in good faith.

Oh, lordy. I am aware it is a non-starter. It's what we should be doing, not what we will do.

It's so funny though, when the CDC is putting out messaging like this:



It makes it seem like we should be trying to slow the spread, not keep reopening things.

I just don't understand our country.

It says wear a mask and distance. Not lockdown and close schools.

Why? Cases are going down right? So why do we need to be more cautious all of a sudden?

[Anonymous]

European schools are reopening soon and most have timelines for return in February or early March.

[Anonymous]

I've been following news reports in France to see how their non-school closure strategy is working.

To recap, many countries in Europe did close schools this winter in response to the spread of the new UK and other variants. France was a holdout.... lots of public debate ... but decided to keep much closed (restaurants, cafes, bars etc) and urge telework, but keep schools open.

However in the face of growing numbers of COVID cases in some areas, they are making stricter rules about closing individual schools if there are cases.

In the area of Moselle there appears to be a growing cluster of cases of the S. African strain.

https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210215-covid-19-pandemic-in-france-worrying-surge-of-variant-cases-in-eastern-moselle-region

In France between 4 and 5 percent of new COVID cases are the A African variant but in eastern Moselle that number is 40%

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/spread-of-s-african-variant-in-eastern-france-triggers-calls-to-suspend-astrazeneca-vaccine-rollout-to-health-workers/2021/02/16/162f8932-7060-11eb-8651-6d3091eac63f_story.html

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Covid-Variant-spread-in-east-France-prompts-lockdown-calls

Although schools in Moselle are technically open, many are being closed due to cases:

According to a count stopped Thursday, February 11 by the ARS and the rectorate of the Nancy-Metz Academy, there were 664 students positive for Covid in Lorraine and 124 staff. There were also 88 closed classes. A figure which is ultimately higher and which changes every day. The next day, Friday, there were 110 closed classes… just for the Moselle department .

https://actu.fr/societe/coronavirus/covid-19-variants-de-plus-en-plus-d-ecoles-et-classes-ferment-en-lorraine-voici-la-liste_39510623.html


https://www.republicain-lorrain.fr/sante/2021/02/17/covid-en-moselle-24-structures-scolaires-et-456-classes-fermees

[Anonymous]

Teachers and students in Moselle are not yet vaccinated against COVID for the most part I do not think.

[Anonymous]

360 classes out of 4000 closed; that number up from 1010 last week.

I think so many classes with a positive case at once is probably an indicator of widespread community spread; not so much that cases are spreading inside schools per se.

Nearly 360 classes closed in Moselle, on February 16
Their number stood at a hundred last Saturday. They are now 360 classes closed in schools in Moselle, according to Olivier Delcayrou, sub-prefect, secretary general of the prefecture. A figure to be put into perspective, according to him, since the protocol has been strengthened in the department. Each time a positive case is detected, the protocol applying by default to the South African variant is applied and therefore the class closes. "This has mechanically caused the closure of more classes" in recent days, according to Olivier Delcayrou. He recalled that this "does not necessarily mean that the virus and the variants circulate more at school". In Moselle, there are 4,000 classes in total in schools, colleges and high schools, recalled the state representative interviewed Tuesday by Lorraine Actu.

https://actu.fr/societe/coronavirus/covid-19-variants-de-plus-en-plus-d-ecoles-et-classes-ferment-en-lorraine-voici-la-liste_39510623.html

[Anonymous]

360 classes out of 4000 closed; that number up from 100 last week.

I think so many classes with a positive case at once is probably an indicator of widespread community spread; not so much that cases are spreading inside schools per se.

Nearly 360 classes closed in Moselle, on February 16
Their number stood at a hundred last Saturday. They are now 360 classes closed in schools in Moselle, according to Olivier Delcayrou, sub-prefect, secretary general of the prefecture. A figure to be put into perspective, according to him, since the protocol has been strengthened in the department. Each time a positive case is detected, the protocol applying by default to the South African variant is applied and therefore the class closes. "This has mechanically caused the closure of more classes" in recent days, according to Olivier Delcayrou. He recalled that this "does not necessarily mean that the virus and the variants circulate more at school". In Moselle, there are 4,000 classes in total in schools, colleges and high schools, recalled the state representative interviewed Tuesday by Lorraine Actu.

https://actu.fr/societe/coronavirus/covid-19-variants-de-plus-en-plus-d-ecoles-et-classes-ferment-en-lorraine-voici-la-liste_39510623.html

[Anonymous]

So cases in Moselle aren't spreading like crazy in the schools; bit nevertheless 10% of all classrooms in Moselle have at least one student who tested positive for COVID. What else is open in Moselle right now? Where are kids getting exposure to COVID?