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When can society get back to being open again?
Lots of talk of “we need to be past the peak”.
Yes, we have to be past the peak, but that’s not enough.
We also have to ensure that ending the lockdown doesn’t lead to another peak.
https://www.facebook.com/639638973/posts/10158962721788974/">https://www.facebook.com/639638973...
Lots of talk of “we need to be past the peak”.
Yes, we have to be past the peak, but that’s not enough.
We also have to ensure that ending the lockdown doesn’t lead to another peak.
https://www.facebook.com/639638973/posts/10158962721788974/">https://www.facebook.com/639638973...
If we aren’t to have huge numbers of excess deaths then the lock down has to continue until
- the virus is eliminated, or
- the virus is depressed to a point where testing and contact tracing can keep it suppressed, or
- a vaccine is developed and deployed.
- the virus is eliminated, or
- the virus is depressed to a point where testing and contact tracing can keep it suppressed, or
- a vaccine is developed and deployed.
Perhaps China has done the first in Wuhan - let’s see what happens there, but hope that is correct.
Taiwan and some other south East Asian countries are apparently managing the second.
We still seem a long way from the third. There needs to be a worldwide drive for a vaccine.
Taiwan and some other south East Asian countries are apparently managing the second.
We still seem a long way from the third. There needs to be a worldwide drive for a vaccine.
The Imperial College modelling talked about turning the lockdown measures on and off. On some level that is still aiming at herd immunity through the route of many of us getting the virus - just at a lower rate than currently. That would to stop the NHS being overwhelmed
If that’s the route we end up following there are further questions.
How are we protecting those vulnerable people with “pre existing conditions”?
I’m not talking about those with the most severe conditions who have been told to “shelter” at home for the next 12 weeks.
How are we protecting those vulnerable people with “pre existing conditions”?
I’m not talking about those with the most severe conditions who have been told to “shelter” at home for the next 12 weeks.
I’m taking about a much wider list those aged over 70, those told they should get a flu jab, those with asthma, COPD, chronic lung, heart, kidney disease etc.
The Government has told them to work from home if they can, to be stringent about hand washing etc.
The Government has told them to work from home if they can, to be stringent about hand washing etc.
But why isn’t there a standing Govt instruction that anyone in those categories shouldn’t be in work - nor should those who live with them - so they can also be sheltered too.
Clearly the Government would then need to ensure that their pay must then be fully replaced
Clearly the Government would then need to ensure that their pay must then be fully replaced
Since the beginning of this crisis the NEU has been very clear that school or college staff who are vulnerable or who live with vulnerable people should be working from home and not on rotas in schools.
We are proud of that advice and we think it’s been widely followed.
We are proud of that advice and we think it’s been widely followed.
We think at the end of this crisis that this advice will have kept people alive who would otherwise have died.
But this should not be down to the union. It should be standing Government instruction and policy.
But this should not be down to the union. It should be standing Government instruction and policy.
