Don't blame key worker families for virus surge, blame the rule breakers instead - Mark Casci

One of the biggest myths propagated this past year is that Covid-19 necessitated the closure of schools.

In reality, schools never closed. Since the first lockdown in March last year they have remained open to the children of key workers, so that the vital work they do in terms of keeping us healthy, fed, connected and informed can continue.

Every teacher and support staff member in every school in the UK should be incredibly proud of the fantastic work they have done during the pandemic to keep children educated and safe, often under the most trying of circumstances.

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Key workers come from all sections of life, from doctors and Government officials to delivery drivers and shelf stackers – all made equal in the designation that their work is of critical importance to the country’s ability to function.

Key worker families have seen calls for them not to send their kids to school.Key worker families have seen calls for them not to send their kids to school.
Key worker families have seen calls for them not to send their kids to school.

It was, however, with some considerable degree of disappointment that I saw calls over the weekend for numbers of these key worker places in schools to be diminished or indeed even scrapped.

Now while I would never fault anyone’s intent in seeking to reduce the spread of this vicious virus, the damaging effects of which I have seen first hand in my own personal life, I must call into question this position which makes little sense.

While Covid-19 can spread anywhere it must be kept in mind that transmission in school has been kept low owing to the diligence of teachers and support staff using the bubble system.

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Classrooms are well ventilated and hand washing is encouraged regularly. If someone connected to a classroom bubble tests positive then the whole class isolates for two weeks. It is a chaotic system at times but it has been effective at keeping teaching staff safe and children in school.

Hospitalisation levels are reaching alarming levels.Hospitalisation levels are reaching alarming levels.
Hospitalisation levels are reaching alarming levels.

The number of children from key worker families in school is indeed higher than during the Spring lockdown, it is still far lower than was seen before Christmas.

And while teaching staff should be a top priority group for vaccination, the fact remains that schools are a safe environment for the vast majority of the time.

There is a reason why Professor Chris Whitty, arguably the most vocal public figure when it comes to the need for restrictions, has not called for a tightening of the rules because he knows that the existing ones would be sufficient to stem the spread of Covid, provided people follow them.

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Data shows us that by far the vast majority of infections take place in households.

Professor Chris Whitty has called for current restrictions to be enforced.Professor Chris Whitty has called for current restrictions to be enforced.
Professor Chris Whitty has called for current restrictions to be enforced.

This is why there was so much resistance from the scientific community to the Government’s relaxation of the rules at Christmas time.

Now, with vaccines being rolled out en masse across the nation and hopes of them being administered to the principal at-risk groups within a couple of months, there is a growing complacency from the public.

I have never bought the argument that ever changing regulations somehow forgive people transgressing them. Aside from mendacious lunatics spreading conspiracy theories about empty hospitals, the whole nation knows that, right now, the NHS is under severe pressure to provide care to very ill people and that this situation is going to get far worse before it gets better. Denying access to face-to-face education has already caused huge damage to the prospects of millions of young people. Those not considered as frequently are the parents.

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The considered words of Hannah Strawbridge, published today by The Yorkshire Post, should stand as a stark warning when she rightly points out the disastrous consequences for gender equality and working mothers from shutdowns. She rightly points out the high rate of joblessness seen in this demographic.

So for parents who have children in school as a result of their key worker status I urge you to not feel guilty. You, your children and their teachers are doing the right thing.

And for the rest of us, following the simple and highly necessary message of staying at home. Vaccines are a light at the end of the tunnel but the more we flout the rules, the longer away that tunnel’s end will be.

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