Concerned mother writes to MP calling for action over rapid rise of COVID-19 in schools

A Warrington mother of two young children, both suffering the ill-effects of COVID-19, who has been working on the frontline as a Consultant Respiratory Physician, has written to her MP calling for action over the rapid spread of the disease in schools.

Dr Binita Kane and other local parents believe the spread of COVID-19 in schools is “out of control” and has written to Warrington South MP Andy Carter, calling on the Government to introduce sensible precautions to help reduce the spread of the disease.

Dr Kane said there had now been 11 deaths of children in the UK since the start of the Autumn term from COVID, one of the latest involving a 15-year-old girl who died within a week of onset of symptoms of COVID myocarditis, on the day she was due her vaccine.
“I also have a daughter (11yrs) who has suffered with Long COVID since January. A previous healthy and fit child who can now barely walk up the road 10 months later. Long COVID is estimated to affect between 4 and 14% of infected children. Too late for my child, but not for other families to go through this – it is preventable.
Her other daughter, aged nine, was just recovering from acute COVID infection but has also now taken a down turn.
Dr Kane said:”Headteachers are on their knees, teachers are worried for their own safety and that of vulnerable relatives. Schools are being left with little guidance and are not being empowered to make their own decision.
“I am certainly not asking for schools to be closed, I understand the need to keep them open, particularly for vulnerable and underprivileged children. All I am asking for is for mitigations to be re-introduced, as recommended by the WHO, to reduce transmission until the children have been vaccinated.
“It is completely incomprehensible why all mitigations have been removed – it does not make any sense, unless a very deliberate strategy to mass-infect children.
“The Public health England guidance for schools also contradicts itself in several places and is outdated in terms of the latest evidence about symptoms and management of a virus that is known to spread through the air.
“The UK is one of the only countries to have not prioritised child vaccination and has removed all mitigations at the same time,” added Dr Kane, who, as a lung doctor has been working on the frontline treating those affected by COVID-19.
Describing her illness 11-year-old Jasmin said;”It stops me from doing everything I love, even if I feel well enough, it still stops me because I’ll pay for it the next day. My friends are being really supportive, but it’s hard because I am missing out on nearly everything’.
In her letter Dr Kane has also included an infographic written by experts in the field, that gives sensible advice on how to reduce spread in schools.

She says that by bringing back “sensible precautions”, with a hybrid/blended learning approach between face to face and online would greatly help to reduce spread.
In response to Dr Kane’s letter Mr Carter said:”“We know that the risk of serious illness for very young children from Covid is very small and the priority for Government is to keep schools open.
“All schools in Warrington have contingency plans outlining what they will do if children or staff test positive for COVID-19, and how they would operate if they were advised by Warrington’s Director of Public Health to take extra measures to help break chains of transmission.
“Given the detrimental impact that restrictions on education can have on children and young people, I am very much of the view that any measures in schools should only ever be considered as a last resort, kept to the minimum number of schools or groups possible, and for the shortest amount of time possible.”

Public health director Thara Raj

Meanwhile, Warrington’s Director of Public Health, Thara Raj, said: The council’s public health team, alongside colleagues in the NHS and other partners, are working with local education settings in Warrington to support staff, students and parents to manage complex cases and coronavirus clusters. The data currently shows increased case rates, particularly among 12-15-year-olds, and we are collectively increasing our efforts to promote preventative actions in schools, such as social distancing and good ventilation in schools.
“In addition, twice-weekly symptom-free testing is available to all secondary school-aged students, which will help minimise transmission as it will pick up individuals who may have no symptoms of Covid, but who may be spreading it unknowingly. Increased emphasis on these transmission prevention strategies will help to minimise cases of coronavirus spreading, whilst the current vaccine programme is rolled out within schools.
“We also know that household transmission is driving up rates in our communities. We therefore urge people to take regular symptom-free tests, be mindful of the symptoms of Covid and get a test if you have any of the main symptoms. If a member of your household tests positive, you should aim to isolate from them as far as possible and book a PCR test immediately.
“Vaccination uptake amongst adults in Warrington is high, and this has helped to curb the number of cases, and has helped to substantially reduce the number of people experiencing severe disease and hospitalisation as a result of infection. If you haven’t had your vaccination, it is not too late: you can book using the national booking system.
“Over half of all 16 and 17-year-olds in Warrington have also been vaccinated, and as with the picture amongst adults, this is helping to curb cases in this age group, with current rates of 324 per 100,000.
“The vaccination programme in secondary schools in Warrington has recently started, following the Chief Medical Officer’s advice around the benefits of this for 12-15 year olds. Our NHS colleagues and school nurses are working with local schools, young people and parents to offer vaccination and provide accurate information about the vaccine and address any concerns. To date 7.2% have received a dose, and this will increase. You can find out about the vaccine as well as lots of common myth-busters on the Spread the Facts website.”

Today is a bad day. Child no2 (the healthy one) on day 13 of #Covid_19, after initial recovery has got worse again.
Her sister is on month 10 of a living nightmare.
This is the reality of ‘living with COVID’ in children.

Please send some positive thoughts.

— Binita Kane (@BinitaKane) October 4, 2021