By Helen Goss
The Lead LCK Representative for Scotland
23rd October 2021
Most schools in Scotland will be finishing up their October half term break this weekend as Winter term approaches. Thankfully, cases of COVID19 in children have fallen since September's 'back to school' explosion of Delta variant, however we start the new term from a higher baseline level of cases than we did in August.
The R0 in Scotland is estimated to be between 08 and 1.0 so we are teetering on the edge of another rise in cases bringing us in to Winter. With other viruses circling, such as RSV, flu and winter rhinoviruses, the NHS is expected to face significant pressure over the coming months.
Hospital admissions in children have decreased since September however the total hospital admissions due to COVID19 remain at significant levels. The NHS remains stretched to it's limits and is bracing for a very difficult winter.
The Army has been called in to assist three health boards in Scotland; NHS Borders, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Grampian. NHS Ayrshire & Arran has also now requested military assistance.
This comes before Glasgow is due to host to the COP26 climate change conference 31st Oct - 12th Nov which is expected to impact case numbers.
Since Scottish schools returned for the new academic year in August there have been over 90k confirmed cases of COVID19 in ages 0-19.
Cases matter. Long Covid matters.
LCK Scotland continues to tirelessly campaign for improved mitigations in schools to protect children from transmission. We urgently need:
Improved ventilation
CO2 monitors in every classroom
Masks
Bubbles
Physical distancing
Isolation of close contacts
Option of home learning
Vaccination for those who want it
In July, the Scottish Government started to model Long Covid in Scotland. As of 21st October 2021 there are an estimated 64,000 - 140,000 suffering from Long Covid. How many of those are children? We wish we knew. Until the Scottish Government start to #CountLongCovid we will not know the true prevalence of Long Covid in children.
Figures taken from the Scottish Government’s weekly Coronavirus (COVID-19): modelling the epidemic publications.
We are a small but dedicated team and would love to welcome new Long Covid Kids (Scotland) volunteers. If you would like to volunteer please get in touch by email: admin@longcovidkids
LongCovidKids.org is a patient-led advocacy and support organisation led by Sammie Mcfarland for families of children with Long Covid. Our story started with a short film on the long-lasting symptoms of Covid in children.
We are supporting research with The Long Covid Kids Study with PeopleWith
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