Topic: Corona Virus Panic/Discussion Thread

@themcnoisy Geez mate - sounds tough. I have some relatives that have thyroid issues of different types and it causes so many issues.

I wonder how much impact and strain covid-19 is going to have on pre-existing conditions such as yourself. You may have recovered from the actual virus but it had had a long term impact. My boss had it and he is still on medication for high blood pressure which he never suffered from before. Good luck with your tests and let us know how you get on.

@themcnoisy I wouldn't normally post any advice RE symptoms online but given your history of autoimmune disorders and recent fall in B12, might be worth asking about whether your intrinsic factor antibodies have been checked? Intrinsic factor binds B12 allowing its absorption in the gut with antibodies to this stopping its function.

@R1spam They have been checked already, I have those antibodies. That's why I need to have B12 injections for the rest of my life. But that hasn't started yet, or even given a start date, due to the Pandemic. Good knowledge though Spam, I hadn't heard of it until recently.

@Rudy_Manchego Thyroid issues are an unseen issue. Most people I have ever met, when I have tried to explain, think I'm joking or that it's not bad. Other than if they have one too. And to be fair it's not that bad if it's under control, I suppose it's like diabetics controlling their insulin levels but over a drawn out process with bloods every couple of months. My levels won't stabalise so it just runs on and on. The thyroid issue is because my immune system attacks it, so the actual issue isn't my thyroid but immune system. That has no cure or if there is, no one's ever even mentioned it.

Anyway getting away from spilling my guts about my health issues, the protests in America must have spread the virus. Everyone was standing dead close together and shouting, so a ton of aerosols floating around. I'm not going to talk about the valid protests or the cray riots, other than to say - I keep hearing that violence is not the answer, but the only reason it's getting so much coverage over here, is in part, because of the violence. That's all I have to add into that situation and I hope for our Bros and Sisters over the pond, they can overcome the obvious and clear racism and move forward a more together and harmonious nation. Stay safe in every way!

@themcnoisy Thanks for the well-wishes for our country, boss. I’ve advocated non-violent social protest, but you’re right - nothing gets things moving and spreads the news like an all out riot. On one hand I see that side of things too. They’ve been trying non-violent means all along and it hasn’t changed things.

I’ve been busy of late so I’m just now reading this thread about your coronavirus antibody coming back positive. I do totally remember a couple months ago when your were so sick! Wow, that’s freaky. Here’s hoping things get normal soon.

As for the B12 - I think you can get sublingual B12 drops that you place under your tongue which absorb straight into your blood and are close to the effectiveness of the injections. I know someone who takes that for their B12 problem. Apparently the swallowed pill supplements won’t get into your system nearly as well, but the sublingual bypasses any need for metabolism in your stomach, just like the injections. So if it’s going to be a while until they can set up the shots, then maybe you can pick up the drops in the meantime. Or at least ask your doctor about it.

I take it no one should be surprised to hear from me in that despite the primary school I work at now being officially open as the easing of lockdown occurs...

... We've had barely any children coming in that weren't already.

The entirety of Year Six for example consists of only six students. Three of them were already coming in anyway due to having key worker parents and no other family members able to look after them.

Most of the parents I've talked to over the phone to ask them why they've not sent so and so in are saying they won't send them in til September.

... This is going to be an interesting and mentally draining week I can tell already 😧

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Wow - I am not sure if I am surprised or not... my wife's charity run pre-school where she teaches had so few pupils returning that they decided to keep closed until September.

I don't, in theory, have a problem with schools slowly going back but I think each of thse moves should be in isolation. Like just schools start to go back, but no other easing of lockdown. That way you can really measure the impact in transmission. Right now with everyone now giving up on quarantine how will we know if it is the parks, or restrictions being lifted or schools that cause a second spike.

I don't blame anyone who hasn't sent thier child in @Rudy_Manchego as if my kids were primary school age (Or even secondary school age) I'd have probably kept them home too.

We've only got two classes per year group so with the lower numbers and only Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 coming in it is rather managable at the moment.

If all the years were coming in (And the pupils actually did come in) I'm not quite sure how we'd cope trying to distance them all.

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Well, I am glad to hear you guys aren't being drowned in children right now. Trying to control younger children especially can often be akin to herding cats anyway.

If I had a child, I'd totally be home schooling them right now. We don't let our nephew go out at all right now, because, invariably, he keeps touching his face, or sticking his fingers in his mouth. You get the idea.

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy If it helps; our National Institute for Public Health conducted a research and found out that children have a smaller chance of contracting the virus and transmitting it. It was the reason why primary schools were the first thing that was reopened a while back. However, I should also mention that children only go to school half the time; so classes are only half occupied. And fortunately it hasn't lead to an increase in cases or deaths; the numbers are still going down steadily, with only a few new cases here and there.

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy my daughter has been at a hub 3 days a week during this whole thing as both my partner and I are key workers and genuinely was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. Turns out hub schooling has been a god send. We are luckier in that we are in an area that hasn't been to badly hit and in the end, the mental health aspect of being separated from all other kids likely would have been far worse. if I had been in London or Birmingham that decision would have been much harder. I genuinely dont know what school will look like for her after the summer and wish you well over the coming months planning that for the kids you teach! Reacting to central government decree when your profession hasn't had a great deal of input is a nightmare!!

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Me neither - I'm quite glad neither of my daughters have to go back yet so we don't have to make that decision. Neither to I judge people who do have to send. There is just no right and wrong.

I do know my wife and her setting are trying to work out how to socially distance 2-4 yr olds and all the new regulations which are just not going to be manageable.

Me and my wife have been unsure what to do about sending our eldest back to school. In the end we decided if he wanted to go,we would send him (he's in year six). Then the local council sent a letter round saying that our county is still high risk. As a result, school emailed saying they won't be opening to more pupils. So that's that.

Schools in Japan right now are largely opening back up. Masks are required and we spray things down with enough alcohol that it sometimes smells like a cheap bar but otherwise things are returning to more or less normal here. Somehow Japan managed to keep the numbers quite low, but I am fearful for the country going forward - I'm worried their modest success may make them complacent. If the possibility of the virus re-surging in fall proves true, Japan might be opening itself to getting hit worse later - in a way - because they were successful now.

I'm so glad I moved up from Reception (Or Kindergarten for yourself) to year two @Ralizah for that exact reason. The six to seven year olds I usually teach are reasonably responsible and the group I had been looking after during all this (Ages 5-9) have been especially good at following the rules we've had to impliment.

I'm honestly not quite sure how my colleague looking after the reception children has managed to cope all this time having to be so vigillant about that. Her first year as a teacher actually and this happens. She's a star!

It is a bit of comfort regarding that @Octane thanks. Hopefully all goes well on your end!

I'm glad to hear your daughter has been alright @R1spam with her schooling and thank you for the well wishes It's very much appreciated!

I hope everything goes smoothly for you going forward.

Good grief (Apparently I'm now channeling Danger Mouse). I can't even begin to imagine how nurseries are going to go about all this @Rudy_Manchego... I hope your wife and all her colleagues manage to sort it all out and major respect from me when they do get it up and running again

Wise descision your son's school has decided to take. Hope you and the family stay safe @Gremio108!

Good luck teaching in Japan fellow teacher @Heavyarms55! Hope everything goes ok on your end!

@Rudy_Manchego My sister has a three year old and is very anxious about the possibility of sending her back to nursery. Very young children simply don't understand social distancing and I think it is potentially psychologically damaging to them. My Mum could potentially see them if she stood two metres away, but can you imagine telling a three year old to stay away from their grandmother? She just wouldn't understand why she can't hug her.

Hope everything goes well at work @Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy and stay safe. What support is your union providing? I don't blame parents for keeping their kids home and would probably do the same thing if I had children. You're in Birmingham aren't you? (Apologies if I misremembered that!) Was it reported that the council was keeping primary schools closed, but does it depend on if the school is an academy or not? Just asking because all these different rules in different parts of the country are getting rather difficult to keep up with.

I would be interested on hearing from any parents here about their kids behaviour during furlough and LockDown. Initially my kids were good, homework and helping round the house. Gradually as they have worked out it wasn't ending soon, our authority has diminished somewhat. Refusing to do homework or not telling us about missing stuff (the app show my homework can only tell you so much). This is the last day of our kids LockDown and it's one of the worst, they have lost all interest in going the extra mile. The quality of the work is horrendous. So glad they are in Wed, Thur, Fri here on in, its been too long and they need to be educated by professionals.

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Good luck FGS, you are in the best place to give us all advice! We are lucky with the schools my kids use. There was never a question about reopening and they just want to be there for the kids and to get the education going again (my wife picked the schools thank god).

@themcnoisy I told my wee brother that if he doesn’t do his homework then I’ll delete his 60 hour Persona 5 file. Dirty tactics but it works, well seeing I’m not a parent 😂😂😂

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Thanks. I'm happy for the decision to be taken out of my hands to be honest. I personally think what they're asking of you guys (meaning teachers) is a bit much.

@themcnoisy Mine have been great on the whole, I can hardly complain. There have been times when it's been difficult though. During the weeks which would have been Easter and half term, we have given them the week off doing any school work, and as a result, the week after was near-impossible to get them back into the groove. There has been a lot less maths and English and a lot more Portal Knights this week, for example. There are also times when they just go bonkers and run about the house. I think that's because they aren't getting their play time, so they've got all this pent-up energy that needs to come out.

It sounds like you're doing a good job. If they're happy, then you're doing fine. That's my opinion anyway. There will be a lot of kids out there having a very bad time during this lockdown, so don't beat yourself up just because they're slacking on their fractions or whatever

@Gremio108 Yeah the halfterms are a nightmare, rather than being a time for a break from school - it's just a break from all acceptable societal constructs in our house. My 12 year old was sat there at 10am last Wednesday eating an icecream in nothing but bright yellow underpants, screaming at his mates in fortnite.

@nessisonett I wish my kids played something as high brow as Persona. Fortnite, Cod Warzone with a bit of Fifa. My 4 year old daughter has a wider taste in gaming and loves Street Fighter 2 and Dreams. No idea where I went wrong.