Friday, August 27, 2021

Scotland, Schools and Covid : Trading the Slow Puncture for the Big Bang?

The image of a tidal wave keeps falling through my mind. 


The wave in the photo looks pretty, but the one I envisage is grey and more foreboding. Outside, the weather is glorious, while a tidal wave of Covid is hitting the schools. This time, it's really here. 

My own kids are not showing any symptoms, thus far. But come on, the odds are narrowing every day. Nearly 7K cases in Scotland today. Our highest ever. 

The isolation rules have changed:  If one sibling tests positive, the other child is expected to attend school....until they too test positive a few days later. It's a recipe for super-spreading. It's flabbergasting. 

As this unfolds, I feel angry and bewildered. I keep thinking: WHY are  the Scottish (and the UK) governments setting policy that actively encourages infection in schools? 

And today, my guess is this: they want to get a wave of infection over with before the 'normal' winter crisis in the NHS. A big bang as opposed to a slow puncture? Wow.

But they could have offered vaccination to kids age 12 plus. They could have put better ventilation in schools and kept the old isolation rules. How many kids will develop Long Covid?

Waiting times at Glasgow A&E were reported to be four to six hours this week.  You don't want to be in those queues. 

This isn't going to be a normal blog post. It's an, I can't believe it's happening post. 

I'm floating about the house and garden, a bit shell-shocked, just waiting for my family to probably get Covid...after spending nearly 2 years trying not to get Covid.

Last night, I met a GP friend (outdoors) to catch up. From my pal, and from others, I'm hearing reports of double vaxed people still getting seriously ill with covid pneumonia. People with 'no underlying conditions.' Friends of friends being airlifted to hospital. 

So, there's no jolly 'life is life' ending to this post. I have to get it finished before the kids come in from school. Hugh and Tess, living in the moment, glad it's Friday, hoping for an ice lolly in the garden, as the dog goes nuts with joy at the very sight of them.