Will Anyone in the US Take Notice of How the UK is Handling Schools?
Is Ron DeSantis the new PM of the UK?
The UK's Department of Education is out with Updated Covid-19 Guidance for Schools, and I'm wondering if anyone in the US will take notice? I'd encourage you to read the entire document:
UK Schools COVID-19 Operational Guidance
Of greatest importance to the current debate in the US is their school masking policy:
No masks required for anyone in school!
That's right, the UK, like the majority of countries in Europe, does not mandate masks for children in school. Damn you Ron DeSantis! Even last year UK schools did not require masks for under age 12 students and for older students it was just in hallways and other communal areas outside the classroom. Now:
"Face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors either in classrooms or in communal areas."
BOOM!
But it doesn't stop there.
Classroom "pods" or "bubbles"?: No Longer Recommended.
“We no longer recommend that it is necessary to keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’).”
Contact Tracing and Isolation?: Contact Tracing is not required. And the rules for students are:
“Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19"
Covid Testing?: Not required.
[When] “informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.”
Their Key Control Measures are simply:
Ensure good hygiene for everyone.
Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes.
Keep occupied spaces well ventilated.
Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Basically, Normal School...
So there ought to be a bunch of panicked stories out of the UK like the stories we are seeing out of Florida and Texas, right? Anyone, anyone... Bueller...
When I say that Scott Gottlieb is Dead Wrong this is what I meant! The UK is finally getting it. When will schools in the US, outside of some places like Florida, catch up?
Anyway 0 and 2...