Dear @annelongfield, I’ve just listened to your interview w/ @charliestaytfan on @BBCBreakfast, hoping DESPERATELY for you to mention #coronavirus MITIGATION INSIDE #schools.

But you didn’t!

EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL, but #OnlyWhenItsSafe.
1/ 16 A thread. https://twitter.com/reicherstephen/status/1357703010252713987

Please see that attached document from yesterday’s @IndependentSage meeting, a clear, pragmatic plan to carefully & safely fully reopen #schools using #RedAmberGreen phases. PLEASE please take a look.

NO ONE wants any unnecessary delay believe me. 2/

But #COVIDisAirborne - this FACT has being repeatedly & dangerously ignored by government & #DfE

Without improved #ventilation, routine wearing of #MasksInClassrooms & reducing class sizes by the use of other spaces & more staff, #schools ARE NOT #SafeSpacesToLearn. 3/

With full classes INDOORS, the risk of transmission is HIGH.
#COVIDisAirborne - no amount of hand washing & sitting in lines facing forwards will prevent transmission.

The use of huge BUBBLES links so many families & highly transmissible #CovidVariants will spread easily. 4/

#KidsGetLongCovid & a very few get #PIMS.
Why would we not do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to prevent these outcomes?

Luckily, the majority of children don’t get seriously ill with #COVID19 & death is very rare. 5/

But the number is NOT ZERO.

These statistics will be of absolutely no comfort to those parents & families who have lost a child or have experienced a frightening period with their child being hospitalised. 6/

CROWDED INDOOR SPACES WITHOUT #masks ARE HIGH RISK FOR AN #Airborne VIRUS.

That’s an undeniable fact! 7/

Whilst there is ongoing debate about the LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION WITHIN SCHOOLS, we know with absolute certainty that CHILDREN CAN & DO TRANSMIT IN SCHOOLS, even in primary schools.

#SAGE’s own assessment of transmission etc on 17th Dec.
8/

The government repeatedly tell us that teachers & staff are not at increased risk of #COVID19 than other workers.
I am doubtful!
The graph below in a @tes publication, and which the @NEU commented on, appears to have been pushed aside. 9/

ANY adults living or working with children going to schools & #earlyyears settings are being exposed to #coronavirus every day and CRUCIALLY that exposure/risk could be REDUCED by following @IndependentSage’s advice. 10/

ON EVERY SINGLE LEVEL-individual, family, community & national-REDUCING RISK IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

To prevent suffering, avoid another surge, the chances of a #3rdWave (& further damaging #lockdowns), allow time for non- #COVID care to catch up & #NHS staff to recover. 11/

We’ve already seen a horrifying number of UK deaths & know 10-20% of those affected get #LongCovid.

Any plan to fully reopen schools WITHOUT EFFECTIVE MITIGATION for an #airborne virus is irresponsible & dangerous.
We know what needs to be done.
WHY CAN’T WE JUST DO IT? 12/

Ask the children, @HearTheStudent. They don’t want to catch #coronavirus or pass it on to their families or teachers.
They really don’t.
Of course they want to be back in school, but the inadequate safety measures are making them increasingly anxious too. 13/

#COVIDisAirborne -As a Dr I don’t understand the ongoing REFUSAL to consider BASIC PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES for an #airborne in ALL educational/childcare settings.
A further wave is totally UNNECESSARY & completely AVOIDABLE.
Ignoring the facts now would be UNFORGIVABLE! 14/

I BEG YOU, as @ChildrensComm, to read the @IndependentSage plan & use your voice to highlight that #COVIDisAirborne.

Most kids CAN #WearAMask @ school.
Schools CAN improve #Ventilation & use extra spaces to class sizes & create #SafeSpacesToLearn
15/

#COVIDisAirborne #MasksSaveLives #VentilationMatters #SafeSpacesToLearn #earlyyearsmatter #handsfacespacereplace @annelongfield
@ChildrensComm @educationgovuk @NEUnion @MaryBoustedNEU @GawainLittle @HoppySaul @HearTheStudent @10DowningStreet @LongCovidKids @EYAlliance @NAHT END