@@@ Covid Chat 2/2

[redheadbaker]

The school district of Philadelphia has been remote for most of the year, trying and failing twice (Sept. and Nov.) to re-open schools. Public opposition due to building safety was the reason for the cancellation. There was already concern about mold and asbestos in the aging school buildings before the pandemic. 

Well, now they're trying again. Their solution to building safety concerns? Box fans (rated for home use only) in the windows. 



www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-ventilation-fans-reopening-20210202.html

[icedcoffee]

WTF?!?! I mean. I guess it can't hurt, but surely they can find a better solution for air flow. My kids daycare (in a county public school) has these huge blue air thing-a-ma-jigs that...I think just circulate the air? But it's commercial at least!! LOL I used this window fan thing as a freshman in college!

[pixy0stix]

Seems legit.

/sarcasm

[redheadbaker]

Feb 2, 2021 9:55:59 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

WTF?!?! I mean. I guess it can't hurt, but surely they can find a better solution for air flow.

Actually, it could cause harm.

In the article, Jerry Roseman, the teachers’ union’s environmental scientist, says they’re problematic: "The fans will require blow-in air that’s too cold in winter months, bring in dust and dirt,and blow particles from person to person in a direct air stream — a danger in a pandemic. District workers have placed grates in front of them, which will hamper the fans’ ability to provide the air volume and distribution needed to mitigate the virus."

[sillygoosegirl]

Feb 2, 2021 9:55:59 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

WTF?!?! I mean. I guess it can't hurt, but surely they can find a better solution for air flow. My kids daycare (in a county public school) has these huge blue air thing-a-ma-jigs that...I think just circulate the air? But it's commercial at least!! LOL I used this window fan thing as a freshman in college!

I thought just circulating the air actually was worse than simply having it be still, if it's not being exchanged or filtered. Circulation ensures any aerosols get all over the room. The goal is to get them outside or through a filter or killed by UV light system.

[icedcoffee]

Feb 2, 2021 10:49:33 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

Feb 2, 2021 9:55:59 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

WTF?!?! I mean. I guess it can't hurt, but surely they can find a better solution for air flow. My kids daycare (in a county public school) has these huge blue air thing-a-ma-jigs that...I think just circulate the air? But it's commercial at least!! LOL I used this window fan thing as a freshman in college!

I thought just circulating the air actually was worse than simply having it be still, if it's not being exchanged or filtered. Circulation ensures any aerosols get all over the room. The goal is to get them outside or through a filter or killed by UV light system.

You're probably right.  They do have these things aimed at the door to outside which they keep cracked when the weather allows.  IDK.  I assume someone smarter than me decided to run them.  I could be totally wrong though.

[taratru]

That is just amazing. Our admin all got fancy new air filtration machines for their offices. Whew. Thank goodness they have those when they are the ones who have complete control over who comes into their offices, how much space they can create, and masking. I was really worried.

[pixy0stix]

This is why I find most of the discussions about covid and schools reopening so frustrating here. It's mostly based from the upper middle class white female perspective. Which, according to this poll, covid doesn't even rate into the top 10 of concerns for our (white) group: mottpoll.org/reports/top-health-concerns-kids-2020-during-pandemic

[Velar Fricative]

DD1 tested positive. Fuck. She’s asymptomatic and while I obviously know asymptomatic people can test positive, it’s still a gut punch. It was very likely transmitted in the classroom because we haven’t gone anywhere else and tracers confirmed upon investigation that the other child was contagious on Wednesday (their last day in the classroom). DH tested negative since he got tested at the same time, so now I need to walk to urgent care in a snowstorm to get myself tested and DD2 will get tested tomorrow at the pedi’s office.

Isolation is already a disaster. We are wearing masks but my 3yo refuses, and she won’t leave DD1 alone in her room. We will do our best but fuck.

[abs]

Velar Fricative, oh no! I'm so sorry. I hope it doesn't spread to the rest of your house and I hope your DD keeps feeling good.

[formerlyak]

Velar Fricative, I am so sorry. I hope she remains asymptomatic and you all continue to be negative.

[breezy8407]

Velar Fricative I'm sorry. I hope everyone stays healthy.

H and I have talked about how we would even attempt to keep everyone separate/isolate. It just seems impossible with small kids.

[penguingrrl]

Oh no! I’m so sorry! Vibes that she remains asymptomatic and the rest of you are spared!

[pixy0stix]

I'm sorry, Velar Fricative.

[raangoli]

I am so sorry Velar Fricative . I hope you all stay well.

[Velar Fricative]

Thanks all. The principal said every kid case they’ve seen at the school has resulted in few or no symptoms and no serious outcomes, and our pedi confirmed that too given covid+ patients she has. But I’m still worried about long-term effects. I know I know, I shouldn’t panic about things I can’t control but still. The mask may not have helped her not get infected but I hope it made a difference in how much she was infected with.

I’d be shocked if she’s the only case in the classroom. They said she sits closer to the other child than most other kids, but not all, and I would think if she got infected others may have been too. Her teacher isn’t feeling symptoms so hopefully she’s negative. The school also apologized for the delay in informing us but it turned out the other family never reported the case plus other household cases to the school - the school found out through the testing corps or some other way and had to follow up themselves. Meanwhile here I am basically contacting everyone who must know and feeling intense guilt if we exposed anyone - our jobs, DD2’s preschool, etc. I don’t fucking get people.

[underwaterrhymes]

I’m sorry Velar Fricative.

[Deleted]

Velar Fricative I'm sorry. I hope that she recovers quickly and remains symptom free. The fact that the other family didn't even report it to the school is unconscionable.

[noodleoo]

Velar Fricative , that's awful. I'm sorry about your daughter and agree with the WTF to the parents who didn't notify the school! It's infuriating. If it helps, my friend's daughter tested positive for Covid as well about a month ago. She was completely asymptomatic as well. The mom had tested positive and isolated herself in the basement while the kids/dad quarantined. They had the daughter tested on day 7 so she could go back to school and she was positive. The dad and brother never got it. Hopefully the same ends up being true for your family.

[t]

I’m sorry Velar Fricative. I hope you are negative and hope everyone stays healthy.

[erbear]

I'm sorry, Velar Fricative . I hope this passes quickly.

I'm 0 surprised by the SDP. I mean, they are in a lose-lose situation - vastly underfunded, poorly run, crowded, majority black and brown student population in a city where this group is disproportionately affected by Covid, with parents who need their kids in school but are afraid (rightly so) to send them. If they open, teachers and kids will get sick; if they don't open, their kids suffer.

[taratru]

Velar Fricative I'm sorry. That just sucks.


IRT the infographic pixy0stix posted...look at the percentages. The worries that are in 10th place in the WOC columns have higher numbers than the #2 worry in the white woman column. So damn telling about what these parents' concerns really are (at least in my SUPER DUPER White area).

[Poeticxpassion]

Velar Fricative, I'm so sorry.

[timorousbeastie]

Velar Fricative, I’m sorry. I hope she stays asymptomatic and the rest of you stay healthy.

I spent the day working at a vaccine clinic yesterday. It was the first time I spent any time away from DD since March 13. It’s amazing - after finally getting a break, I actually like her again! Don’t get me wrong, I still loved her of course, but I haven’t been too fond of her behavior lately. Now all the annoying things she does aren’t making me internally scream. I need breaks like this more often!

[seeyalater52]

I’m so sorry @velar fricative

[mbcdefg]

Wishing you and yours the best Velar Fricative

[StrawberryBlondie]

Feb 2, 2021 12:15:53 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

DD1 tested positive. Fuck. She’s asymptomatic and while I obviously know asymptomatic people can test positive, it’s still a gut punch. It was very likely transmitted in the classroom because we haven’t gone anywhere else and tracers confirmed upon investigation that the other child was contagious on Wednesday (their last day in the classroom). DH tested negative since he got tested at the same time, so now I need to walk to urgent care in a snowstorm to get myself tested and DD2 will get tested tomorrow at the pedi’s office.

Isolation is already a disaster. We are wearing masks but my 3yo refuses, and she won’t leave DD1 alone in her room. We will do our best but fuck.

If it helps, I know 3 people who have had kids that were asymptomatic the entire time and never transmitted it to another family member.

I'm sorry. That sucks.

[bugandbibs]

We sent DS (first grade) back hydrid a couple of weeks ago. He hates not being home and tries to get out of going. It's 2 days/week 6 hours. He says it's boring and he hates having to sit at his table all day. He teacher says he is doing well. We are keeping our girls home, but they are in different situations. DS is in a dual immersion program and his natural fluency has been impacted by remote learning. Academically, he is ahead but he doesn't think in Spanish like our girls do who are much farther along in the program. I don't know what to do. He had covid last spring and was very ill, so I feel extra anxiety about this risk for something he doesn't want to do. I know reinfection rates are low, but with variants that seems to be changing. It's weighing heavy on me.

[rubysoh0]

Feb 2, 2021 12:15:53 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

DD1 tested positive. Fuck. She’s asymptomatic and while I obviously know asymptomatic people can test positive, it’s still a gut punch. It was very likely transmitted in the classroom because we haven’t gone anywhere else and tracers confirmed upon investigation that the other child was contagious on Wednesday (their last day in the classroom). DH tested negative since he got tested at the same time, so now I need to walk to urgent care in a snowstorm to get myself tested and DD2 will get tested tomorrow at the pedi’s office.

Isolation is already a disaster. We are wearing masks but my 3yo refuses, and she won’t leave DD1 alone in her room. We will do our best but fuck.

Fingers crossed you all stay negative/asymptomatic.
My husband was patient 0 in our house and infected myself and my 9 year old but my 4 year old never got it. My parents were also exposed to my 9 year old for 3 straight days and never got it. Since she was barely symptomatic (headache, followed by one fever in a 12 hour period, then nothing) I think she wasn’t shedding much virus.

[jamaicam]

My boys have gone back to in-person school for the first time in 11 months this morning! They were singing 'we are going to school yay yay yay' all of the way there.

I am happy with the precautions the school is taking (2 cohorts so less than 10 kids per class, eacah class in its own bubble, masks on all day other than a mask break outside, all windows open and fans going, temperature checks on arrival). They have also sent rules to parents about travel and symptoms in their households and isolating etc and if you break those, you can be asked to leave the school. So hopefully they will be fine.