Schools and Covid 19 (part 5) Mod warnings in OP

Gusser09 · 05-01-2022 9:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423575#Comment_118423575

Ah yeh.

I should have done a Tony Holohan on it and referred to the whatsapps as anecdotal instead. That would make it much more believable.

Bananaleaf · 05-01-2022 9:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423575#Comment_118423575

So true. Can't wait to hear about it in 6 weeks time when I'm about to go back to work after yet another week off for Feb midterm

Gusser09 · 05-01-2022 10:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423592#Comment_118423592

If your still around by then. What with the schools being such a scene of carnage.

shesty · 05-01-2022 10:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118422725#Comment_118422725

Spent the last week doing this tortured calculation.1 pos, 2 neg here.

The HSE were telling people 17 days isolation on the phone.I haven't spoken to them myself, missed their calls and no way to call them back.BUT.....this is not what is written on their website.In addition, I have received 2 emails from the school today, one quoting the HSE's advice direct from their site, the other a letter forwarded on by the principal from the Acting Director of Public Health in the HSE.Both say isolate for 14 days, get a PCR on Day 0 and Day 10 and if both are negative, they are ok to leave isolation. I've added the link below, I am not sure how old your kids are.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/contact-tracing/if-your-child-is-a-close-contact/#what-to-do-if-your-child-is-a-close-contact

I do not know why the advice on their website contradicts what they are saying on the phone, because I know they are saying 17 days to people with kids.But as far as I can see, the correspondence I have received so far mentions 14 and 10 days, so I am going with that.The obvious struggle being the part where you have get two PCR tests for them🙄

TheCrank · 05-01-2022 10:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423506#Comment_118423506

I am entirely for real. What's the problem with my comment? It's unfortunate that so many staff are ill or isolating and I wish them well. The school has made a good call in prioritising the exam years. I am also wondering how so many of the staff came to be in this position at the same time. It seems a normal thing to ponder. My sister-in-law's house came down with it and after the initial concern and well wishes the first thing that was asked was how did they get it? I'm confused by your outrage.

the corpo · 05-01-2022 10:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423336#Comment_118423336

Missing because they're isolating or parents don't want to send them in?

Our class whatsapp have a good few kids out, but other parents stressing over whether they should send their own kids back tomorrow

cant26 · 05-01-2022 10:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423641#Comment_118423641

I feel your pain! We were the same before Christmas, one positive and two negative. I was told on the phone the 17 days and couldn't believe it. Was the first time I had heard of it but as a previous poster said a few days ago I was told 17 days because I wasn't isolating my child with covid. Think if we had put him in a room it would have bee the day 1 test and day 10 test.

Might have changed because I also received emails from our school this eve giving the same info you just mentioned. Honestly the 17 days was so hard no way will I do it again.

Just to add I think the hse website has been updated. I definitely read 17 days when we were going through it in early Dec. I couldn't believe the contact tracer and had hoped I'd get different info from the hse.

Pity you missed the calls because they automatically send you your day 1 and 10 test appointments. Hope you are nearing the end of it now!

History Queen · 05-01-2022 10:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423725#Comment_118423725

I'm not sure to be honest. I didn't ask, I would assume a mix of both.

Bananaleaf · 05-01-2022 10:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423671#Comment_118423671

Oh, my sincerest apologies. I read your post all wrong. I thought you were being really ignorant and doing the usual 'jealous 9-5er who takes their own unhappiness with their work/life balance out on teachers' routine.

I thought you were suggesting that teachers might have been visiting family or doing their shopping or maybe even going to the pub or getting a few Christmas presents and that you disapproved of this, in a way that would mean that you are of unsound or of no mind and all.

But I was wrong. You care. You're a good guy. I'm sure they teachers will be delighted to get those well wishing emails from you in the morning or you might even pop in a card to the school

Fair play to you

You've actually made me wonder and now I too am curious - what it is your sister in law and the whole family were getting up to to end up with it too?

Sammy2012 · 05-01-2022 10:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423752#Comment_118423752

My family had PCR tests today. Myself and my husband had positive antigens and I got my kids tested too incase we test positive! Would today be their day 0 and then another test on day 10? So they can return to school on the 17th...its a nightmare! They haven't classic cold or flu symptoms either but had a couple of things wrong with them in the last week that could be covid related!

shesty · 05-01-2022 11:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423752#Comment_118423752

Ah well, I had already got the Day 1 tests sorted privately myself because it was Christmas and the HSE was a mess so...🙄And we actually just got private tests today for Day 10 (actually Day 13 since the first pos antigen) and are still neg.But I can't be shelling out this much money if this happens again.Whole thing has been a very expensive farce tbh.

cant26 · 05-01-2022 11:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118424003#Comment_118424003

Think it depends. My son was asymptomatic when he tested positive on an antigen. By the time he had the PCR and it came back positive he had symptoms. So the tracers said day 1 was from when he had symptoms if he remained asymptomatic day one would have been the day his antigen was pos. So for you it will depend on your circumstances if that makes sense!

Sammy2012 · 05-01-2022 11:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118424159#Comment_118424159

Yea I hear you! My kids are currently fine but have had one off vomiting and tummy issues in the last week. Oldest complaining of head and ear ache today....these are all symptoms! So who knows really! But we shall see what happens with our test results first! Its so hard to keep track of all the information

awec · 05-01-2022 11:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423725#Comment_118423725

I really don't get this mindset of stressing about tomorrow.

The numbers and the risk are going to be no different next week, or the week after. Unless these parents want to keep their kids in the house for weeks on end in a 2020-type lockdown their worrying is pointless.

iamwhoiam · 06-01-2022 10:26am

Best wishes to all teachers , SNAs and kids . Lets hope they can stay in school and manage the disruption as best they can . Its not easy but life is not easy for us all at the minute so we muddle through as best we can . Most adults will be putting kids first throughout all this and know how vital it is to keep them as safe but as stable as we can . Thier well being is vital so we plod along and do out best for them

SusanC10 · 06-01-2022 10:37am

Both of ours (1 Primary, 1 Secondary) gone back today. Both fully vaccinated and wearing FFP2 Masks so hoping for the best.

Primary has managed to get enough Subs to open all classes. Not sure on the Secondary but our son's Year are in anyway.

Tombo2001 · 06-01-2022 10:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118423641#Comment_118423641

Thanks - that was 100% my reading of it too. The only issue I had was when does the 10/14 days start. E.g. you get a runny nose on a Tuesday, you do an antigen on the Wednesday - thats positive lets say, you then apply for a test - you dont do the test until Friday or Saturday, results come through on Sunday or Monday, nearly a week after symptoms begin. In the mean time there are close contacts in the house. When does their 10/14 days begin......

Tombo2001 · 06-01-2022 10:42am

The other thing that confuses me on this - why is the isolation period longer for children than adults.

For adults it seems to be 5 days, and thats it, assuming a negative PCR. Double for kids? Thats the reason I asked the question - I could see the 10/14 days on the HSE website, just couldnt see when it was supposed to begin, and was also wondering why it hadnt been adjusted down in line with adults.

Benimar · 06-01-2022 10:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425384#Comment_118425384

It's 5 days for anyone with a booster, 10 days without the booster. Very few (if any?) kids have a booster.

Deeec · 06-01-2022 10:56am

My kids are not gone back today as they are close contacts of a positive last week - so they are isolating. Hopefully they will be able to go back on Monday next

On a positive note I want to praise one of my kids teachers ( primary school ) - She sent a message this morning to all parents listing what she would be covering in school today. She said she will do this every school day for the month of January ( and review it then for Feb) to help kids who are sick or isolating at home. I wasnt expecting this at all and it is truly so helpful. I wasnt a fan of the basic email during lockdowns but in this case I am so grateful of it. It will also encourage parents to follow the rules and keep their kids at home if showing symptoms. For me it takes away the worry that the kids are missing out on their schoolwork while off - we will get all the work covered at home today. I have already decided that I will be giving her a voucher for a meal or takeaway at the end of the month as a thank you.

Deeec · 06-01-2022 10:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425384#Comment_118425384

I think its because most kids are not vaccinated. I agree though it is frustrating - my kids have to isolate longer than my husband who was positive which does seem crazy. The kids are perfectly well showing no symptoms but we have to follow the rules.

Kids have had to put up with alot over this pandemic

Lumen · 06-01-2022 11:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425403#Comment_118425403

It's complicated and depends on age. The HSE website says

Children under the age of 13 who are in contact with a confirmed case of COVID 19 in a non-household setting do not need to restrict their movements or get a PCR test unless they are told to by the HSE or they have symptoms of COVID-19. They can attend school, childcare and other activities as normal.

If over 13 then booster more than 7 days before HSE contact means reduced isolation, as does positive PCR within 3 months.

It's all here: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/contact-tracing/if-your-child-is-a-close-contact/

My 16 y/o in TY is boosted but still within the first 7 days.

Kids of age 13, 14, 15 are slightly in limbo since they can't get a booster but also can't avail of the reduced requirements of under 13 y/o.

If my 13 y/o (who is in JC year) has to miss a couple of weeks of school I won't be impressed.

Lumen · 06-01-2022 11:19am

So, my kids secondary school has handed back contact tracing to the HSE since the beginning of this academic year.

In practice, this means that contact tracing has to happen through the parents of a positive PCR testee.

The question is: even if they have some phone numbers, who in their right mind is going to give out these details to the HSE, knowing the consequence to be that someone's child is going to be asked to miss up to a week and a half of school just because they were in the same class?

If my child tested positive I would let them (the child) contact other kids in their class, and leave it to the other kids+parents to decide how to handle it. I don't even think I have any of the parent's phone numbers, and even if I did I wouldn't be giving them out without consent.

shesty · 06-01-2022 11:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425384#Comment_118425384

Zero sense to half of it.

We took the positive antigen as a "marker".For bureaucratic sake for the neg kids, we counted ten days from their "Day 0 " PCR (even though it was actually Day 4 after the antigen),to get their Day 10 test, just so we could show texts from two dates 10 days apart.In reality their Day 10 test was 13 days after the pos antigen.

I had to bring the positive child to a doctor at the weekend, and speaking to two doctors, they both counted and referred to the positive antigen as the "first" day.They didn't care about the PCR dates.In reality she had a symptom the day before the positive antigen (diarrheoa) but I guess the antigen is a definitive thing you can point to.

I am being harassed with texts from the HSE here reminding me of the dates my two negative kids must isolate until.Since I filled out the close contact form late, they are counting 14 days from the date I said there was last contact.So they appear to be using 14 days also.Their calls to me were 7 days too late, so they are totally out of sync with my actual test dates for the kids.

17 days...I haven't notion.They need to be more consistent with their advice.

shesty · 06-01-2022 11:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425573#Comment_118425573

Funny now, because in the case of our school, the principal emailed to notify parents of the cases and then the parents of the sick kids followed up on the whatsapp group themselves to say what days what child had tested positive on antigens.When my own child tested positive I told parents myself via the Whatsapp.I was not giving their contact details to the HSE to be harassing them (a week too late most likely) with text messages about testing.They all had access to antigens via the principals emails, and obviously quite a few ordered them.

It really depends on the circumstances -I mean we had a positive here on a Friday, no test til a Sunday, close contact texts on a Tuesday - they were already 5 days late, and everyone had known since the Friday already, so in that case I just didn't see the need to involve the HSE. Although I fully appreciated not everyone behaves the same .

ginoginelli · 06-01-2022 11:56am

Breaking news! Norma Foley has confirmed the implementation of medical grade face masks in schools will be..... kept under review. No rush there minister. 🙄

Between the contact tracing mess, the blatant lies about transmission and not even providing proper ppe for the teachers, I'm not surprised they cant get staff for this term.

Shambles

Lumen · 06-01-2022 12:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425768#Comment_118425768

Primary school presumably? Since ours went to secondary the joy of parents' whatsapp groups is behind us. 😀

shesty · 06-01-2022 12:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425879#Comment_118425879

Yep

You're better off!!Although admittedly, both groups are ok and fairly quiet in our case

Bass Reeves · 06-01-2022 2:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425748#Comment_118425748

It's an automated system. The HSE do not nor can they look at every individual case. People should not need there hands held. A lot is common sense. If you have a positive antigen test it makes sense to count from it if there is a positive PCR days later.

We cannot micro manage COVID.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425796#Comment_118425796

It's not a mess. At present we have 20k cases a day and probably more we cannot diagnose fast enough.

It all about managing the disease. Omicron is more infectious but less dangerous than previous variants.

Medical grade masks will not significantly improve the outcome neither are HEPA filter a margin bullet. We should not constantly need the government to micro manage this. In any job you have to manage you workload and risk. People are not exacting falling dead around the place at present. It's not the end of the world if you get Omicron, IMO if it gets into a normal healthy vaccinated household every body is as well off getting it 5-7 days will see it over and done with in that situation effectively and you probably have good immunity until next winter

Icyseanfitz · 06-01-2022 2:41pm

We have 50% student absence today, so it really is a partial return, biggest problem with the way it's unfolding is that the kids that aren't in right now are receiving very little in the way of remote learning (simple notes and tasks on teams) and zero online classes whereas if it was a planned staggered return they would be getting proper remote learning.

Schools and Covid 19 (part 5) **Mod warnings in OP**

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Schools and Covid 19 (part 5) Mod warnings in OP