‘SCHOOLS MUST REOPEN FULLY’:
‘If people say it’s not safe, I want to see the data’ – GP speaks out
AGP has called for all schools in Wales to be fully re-opened before the end of term, saying lockdown is now more of a risk to children’s health and future than Covid-19.
GP Dr Rick O’Shea, who works at surgeries in Pembrokeshire, Aberdare and Cardiff, said the initial lockdown of three weeks was reasonable, but after that restrictions should have been lifted.
He said Wales should open schools fully now as well as following England and Scotland, which have announced plans to open schools full-time in September.
Schools in Wales began opening in phases to all pupils on June 29 but some will only return once before the end of term.
“I want schools back full-time now and in September,” said Dr O’Shea, who volunteered to work in Nightingale hospitals to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
“If people say it’s not safe I want to see the data and evidence they are using to make that decision.”
He was speaking as parents formed a Welsh branch of a campaign group pressing for full reopening of schools.
UsForThemCymru, launched by Cardiff mother-of-one Kate Hughes, now has hundreds of followers on social media.
A petition calling on the Welsh Government to fully re-open schools in Wales has also had more than 3,600 signatures and will now be discussed by the petitions committee.
Dr O’Shea said: “We have done the best we can to protect the NHS and now we have to contend with the virus. We are at the point where the balance is wrong.
“I definitely believe that schools should be opened up for all fulltime. As a parent I want to know why they are not.”
His comments follow an open letter from hundreds of doctors across the UK and Wales earlier this month to the Whitehall and devolved UK governments calling for “a cast-iron guarantee” that children will be able to return to school ol full-time full time in September.
The e father of eight-year-old twin boys said he knows from personal and professional experience that children ren are being affected socially, emotionally tionally and educationally from lockdown.
“I am not a Covid-19 sceptic or denier er of the virus, but after three e months we are looking at a very y different scenario.
“My My main criticism of lockdown, n, and some of the science, is that at a lot of that science has now been challenged as questionable able – but that’s the nature re of science, everything ything is evolving. ving.
“I don’t th in k there’s e’s any science nce tha a t needs ds settling on the utility of children going to school and socialising. “When you say something as fundamental as education is being suspended indefinitely and schools are shut until some undetermined level of safety is achieved, can you share the science that shows we need that?” that? He pointed to ONS data showing Covid19 does not affect children as badly as adults and said there have been fewer than 10 deaths among under-10s from the virus in the UK.
“I believe this is a pathogen that needed to be contended with and still believe that. It exists and has moved through a section of the population. I b believe healthy working-age people peop have little to fear from this vir virus if they don’t have compromi compromised immunity. Those who are at a risk, or feel at risk, can remain s shielded.
“I think we need nee to restore normality. We know children benefit from nurture, structure and socialising in scho school.”
Dr O’Shea, a for former BBC Scrum V presenter, went on to train as a doctor. He now d divides his working week between betwe practices in Cardiff, Aberdare and Pembrokeshire.
This, he said, said has given him a wide vi view of how the ongoing pandemic has affect affected different com communities.
H He said people ne need to return to as assessing perso sonal risk and making decisions based on n that as they did before the panandemic.
He also said he believed ved the role of herd immunity has been misunderstood.
“Herd immunity is the only way we can achieve resistance,” he said. “You achieve this by exposure to the virus or a vaccine. We can’t hide forever. A vaccine may be years away.
“I think this should now be a matter of personal choice. You make your own choice and assess risks. This is what we used to do before lockdown.
“The greatest risk to children and teachers is getting in a car and driving to school. You have to contend with this threat.”
And it is not just the closure of schools he is worried about.
Dr O’Shea said both the mental and physical health of adults and children were being affected by lockdown and many are not
attending medical appointments for fear of the virus.
“The lockdown is damaging everyone’s health. There are a lot of people in medicine concerned that people are delaying getting treatment.
“As GPs with lockdown in place a lot of our workload seemed to dry up, we adapted to new ways of distanced practice, but it was oddly quiet and so I volunteered for the Nightingale Hospital. We were warned that it was not going to be fun. But, happily, that extra capacity wasn’t required in the end.
“With hindsight that now seems to be the point we should have released lockdown and reinstated individual choice so if people wanted or needed to shield they could have done while the rest of the working population needed, and need, to get moving.”
Alison Hughes, who launched UsForThemCymru two weeks ago after being in touch with branches in England and Scotland, said: “I am worried about education but it is more than that – it’s the social and emotional impact on children.
“My daughter has lost motivation since her school shut.
“Our children should be prioritised now. They need to go out to school and parks.
“I haven’t said this to many people because I am scared they will think I’m selfish. You hear divisive language and phrases like ‘Covidiots’ and can’t have a civil, balanced conversation.
“I think schools are doing their best. The Welsh Government now needs to make decisions based on the needs of everybody and based on the wider implications of lockdown for children.”
Education Minister Kirsty Williams recently said she won’t rule out a full return in September but has also said “blended” learning at home and school is likely to continue.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Being able to attend school is very important for children and young people’s wellbeing. Wales is the only UK nation where all pupils have been given the opportunity to attend school before the summer holidays to see their teachers and classmates and to ‘ check in, catch up, and prepare’ for summer and September.
“As we have seen this week thousands of children across Wales have already returned to school.
“As the education minister has made clear she will announce how schools will operate in September once a decision has been made based on the latest health and scientific advice to help keep Wales safe.”
YESTERDAY a little bit of normality returned to the
Bridge Inn.
After months of the coronavirus lockdown, the small village pub just over the border in England welcomed customers inside and served pints from behind the bar.
Staff wore masks and social distancing was still in place, so it wasn’t exactly as before the lockdown, but a further step towards a new normal.
But the same couldn’t be said for the Angel Inn.
It sits just over a mile away down a narrow tree-lined road with wide fields either side.
It’s on the other side of the River Monnow that divides England and Wales.
And although it’s only a shortish walk away, it wasn’t open yesterday.
Pubs in Wales are still waiting to be given a firm date to reopen – July 13 is now a likely date, but, frustratingly for the hospitality industry, still needs confirmation from the Welsh Government.
The Angel Inn in Grosmont, near Abergavenny, is run by Chloe Skinner and her partner Jim Hamilton.
The pair only took over the pub in September 2019, and just a few months later were forced to close.
Chloe, 30, said: “It’s a really strange one. In a lot of ways we’re really privileged because we’re in a lovely little community with a lot of support.
“But it’s so strange being a mile from the border, and our nearest pub to us is 1.2 miles down the road and they’ll be open on Saturday and we won’t.
“Our stance is that we’re pleased with what the Welsh Government has done and that it is taking a more cautious response. And I do think it’s too early for pubs to re-open, especially indoors.
“But then, obviously, in Scotland they’ve announced a more phased approach with more dates.
“What we want is some dates, a roadmap, to say we can plan for this.
“But because we’re on the border obviously the contrast is so stark between us, and a lot of our villagers use the other pub because despite being in two different counties and two different countries even, we’re still one community.”
Over the river in England, landlord of the Bridge Inn William Chambers was busy getting ready for the rules changing yesterday.
William and his wife have had the pub since February 2019.
Since then, they have been flooded twice and endured lockdown.
“It’s been an eventful 12 months”, William said ahead of yesterday’s reopening.
Although many landlords were looking forward to welcoming customers once more, William was a bit more wary.
“I’ve heard of buses from Abergavenny being organised coming to England for the weekend,” he said.
“They’ll all be coming to the pub for a jolly and they’ll be allowed inside. I’m just a pub landlord, I’m a chef by trade, but it feels like I’ve got to help control the spread of the pandemic.
“But how they’ve decided to not open in Wales. If they don’t open in Wales then England should have bit the bullet and not opened.”
Similar to William, Chloe and her partner Jim at the Angel Inn had not been in charge for long before the pandemic hit.
With a long background in hospitality for Chloe and Jim being a chef, the mum said it was a logical step for the pair to take on a pub.
When they took over, the pub’s kitchen was operated on a franchise, which they decided to keep for six months while they settled in.
They were due to take over the kitchen on March 29 – the day lockdown started.
“That didn’t go quite as planned,” Chloe said.
It meant their first service was doing takeaway fish and chips, and marked the start of a steep learning curve.
Chloe said: “We knew the lockdown was inevitable really. We’re a really rural community, there’s 400 people in our village, so we don’t feel things in the same way people in the towns and cities would have felt, so we’re in our own little bubble really.
“But we were prepared and it was the right decision. But, personally, it was quite emotional because we were just due to take on all the kitchen operations, but you just have to sort of get on with it.
“But now we’re coming out the other end it’s just a stark contrast between the two different approaches between England and Wales.”
The pub adapted quickly to the new rules, and has been offering takeaway fish and chips, Sunday lunches, deli boards and freshlybaked bread.
The lockdown also gave them time to work on the pub, which would have
proved difficult while it was open.
Although there have been some positives, Chloe said that after a while the steam began to run out.
She said: “You sort of run out of steam after a while and while we’re still doing the takeaways, things slow down, you can’t get hold of the materials you need, products you need, and it just gets a bit wearing in the end.
“We were ready to build our reputation on what we know and what we do, and we’ve had to completely change what we do.
“All in all our community has been brilliant, and they’ve been what’s kept us going and they appreciate everything we do. And it’s given us a bit of time to get to know everybody and what they want. You’ve just got to take the positives really.”
Despite the positives, the financial impact has been hard. When they started out Chloe and Jim had their business plan ready. They aimed to make it through the winter supported by the steady income of the franchised kitchen.
When summer arrived they’d have the kitchen in-house, and have a busy few months to save up before the slower cooler months hit again.
But coronavirus and the lockdown meant the plan went out the window.
Chloe said: “For us, financially it’s been such a massive blow, especially in our first year. Everything has been put back by at least 12 months.
“It’s going to be so slow to restart again that realistically it’s going to be more a case everything has been put back a couple of years.”
William at the Bridge Inn made a number of changes to the pub before yesterday.
They’ll have a one-way system, staff have been trained, there will be a one-in, one-out rule on the toilets and they’ve installed a bar outside to reduce the flow inside.
“We feel a bit like guinea pigs. It could be completely empty, but this is what I’m banking on really,” he said.
Chloe and Jim, who have three children between them, the eldest 12 and youngest two years old, would be glad to have a date to work towards so they too can start preparing.
For the Angel Inn, like many others across the country, this lack of clarity from the Welsh Government has proved frustrating.
Chloe said: “I know it’s easier to have a dialogue with larger companies in the hospitality industry, but just talk to us. It can be so frustrating being in the dark.
“I think that the Welsh Government know that, they’re in the same position in relation to the UK Government. I don’t think there’s a lot of dialogue there, so they know how frustrating that can be.
“We just realise that it’s not just our sector, but it’s probably the biggest by being left behind and not having that certainty.”
Although Chloe jokingly referred to the Bridge Inn as their rivals, she said the two pubs have a good relationship and had been helping each other throughout the lockdown.
Chloe was even planning to join the other customers there yesterday.
“We eat with them and they eat with us and we’ve been providing each other with takeaways and discussing everything,” she said.
“One good thing to come out of it in a way is that we can see what they’re doing and it’ll be a learning curve for them and us.
“We’re very grateful for how supportive our community has been, I can’t stress that enough. But can you blame them for wanting to go and sit in a beer garden and socialise?”
But William is worried that people will travel from further afield across the border to take advantage of the differences in rules.
“If they open the whole country all as one then at least people would stay at their local pubs and everyone would be excited to go to their local. But now it’s so obvious what’s going to happen.
“There’s alcohol involved, it’s going to be social and it’s going to be like that beach down in Bournemouth all over again. And I’m not looking forward to it.”
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “The hospitality sector is a vital part of the Welsh economy. We continue to work with the industry and local communities to ensure a safe return for the sector.
“The First Minister has asked for a rapid review of the hospitality sector to consider a potential phased reopening of pubs, cafes and restaurants. Those discussions are taking place with a wide range of interests across the hospitality sector in Wales and have been constructive. We will announce our intentions when further headroom for change allows.
“We have adopted a careful and gradual approach to easing the restrictions. We will be guided by the latest scientific and medical advice and will carefully monitor the impact of each change.
“People’s health and well-being is at the forefront of our approach to easing the restrictions.”
EQUIPMENT is single-use, surfaces are sterilised hourly, each member of staff is trained in health and safety and the smell of anti-bacterial chemicals will hit your nostrils as soon as you walk through the door.
But despite this, tattoo parlours have still not been given any sort of idea as to when they will be able to turn their tattoo guns back on and welcome back customers.
If coronavirus numbers continue to fall restaurants, bars and cafes with outdoor spaces will re-open from July 13.
Self-contained caravan parks and hotels are hoping to open by July 11 and hairdressers have started optimistically booking in clients from July 13.
But the lack of answers for tattoo artists has caused them anger and frustration.
Dai Williams, 45, who runs a studio in Station Road, Llanelli, said: “At any tattoo studio it’s hospital, surgical rules – that’s how clean it is. We’ve always been following these hygienic guidelines.
“Everything is single-use, every surface is sterilised after use, we wear gloves. I’ve made shields and extra masks for customers, there’s tape down on the shop floor and sanitising stations.
“We’ll work by appointment only and won’t have any walk-ins or anyone coming into the shop, there’s not much I have to change about the way we work.”
Dai also added that he will not be tattooing the chest, face or neck area.
Many tattoo artists are hoping that the Welsh Government will allow them to re-open alongside hair salons on July 13, but that has yet to be decided.
Hairdressers in England were given the go-ahead to begin re-opening yesterday (July 4) – but tattoo parlours, along with beauticians and other businesses, were told that they had longer to wait and have yet to be given a date.
“It’s very frustrating when you see pubs and businesses where people are in close proximity to each other being allowed to reopen, when we are far more hygienic,” added Dai, who runs Dai’s Tattoo Studio at Coco Beach.
“A pint isn’t essential, going to the shops isn’t really essential. There’s a real lack of communication.”
Dai said he’s had some financial aid from the Government and is confident that when they are given the go-ahead that there will be plenty of interest from clients.
“That money is not going to last forever but we’ve had loads of messages from people wanting us to open, so I’m confident about the future,” he adds.
“I would open back up tomorrow if we could.”
Abi Gadd, who is known professionally as Abi Eve Tattoo, runs her own private studio in Porthcawl and says that the not knowing is the hardest part, especially considering she is heavily pregnant.
“It’s frustrating because I think there is lack of understanding about the industry, from the people making the decisions. Tattoo studios aren’t these seedy places that people think they are,” said the 29-year-old.
“I think the people in power would be really surprised at how hygienic they are and how many rules we follow. Maybe if they looked into it more they might understand the frustration.”
Abi also agrees that little would need to be done to make the environment safe from the virus.
“My studio is private, it’s appointment only, I wear gloves and an apron and sterilise everything. All surfaces are wrapped and disinfected – it wouldn’t be a new way of working for me.
“The only things I would change is to send out the form digitally, wear masks and I would only be tattooing the lower body and legs.”
With a new baby on the way, Abi was hoping she would spend the past couple of months making as much money as possible before going on maternity leave, but has instead been left with little income due to the pandemic.
She said: “I was hoping to work hard and save for the past couple of months, especially because summer is usually the busiest time of the year and I still have to pay rent on the studio, but I’m lucky I’ve been able to have a government grant.
“I agree that a tattoo is a luxury and isn’t essential, but neither is an expensive haircut or going to the pub, and for me, getting my business up and running and getting an income is essential.”
As a pregnant woman Abi is also considered in the high-risk category – but insisted she would feel safe and comfortable in her studio.
She said: “I’d like to go back to work for a couple of weeks and earn some money before going off on maternity. I’d cut my appointments down to only around two a day and would put mine and my clients’ safety first.”
There have also been questions raised as to whether the tattooing process can spread the virus – but the Welsh Blood Service said at the moment there is no evidence any type of coronavirus can be transmitted through blood transfusion.
Rich Jones, 37, who works as a freelance artist in Carmarthen, said tattoo artists are all trained in bloodborne viruses and only use singleuse needles.
“I don’t think it can be the tattooing itself that we are not allowed to open for, because every tattoo artist knows how to work with needles anyway to prevent viruses like HIV.”
He added: “The people who are in power won’t have ever stepped foot in a tattoo studio before. They won’t know how we work, how sterilised every surface is, or how much training we have.”
The 37-year-old artist, who has been tattooing all around the world for 15 years, added: “I think we’ll be one of the last to reopen, sports events will start again before us. It’ll be another prime example of how the arts are undervalued and everything else is thought of before.”
First Minister Mark Drakeford answered a question from a member of public, during his #AskFMWales session on social media, about when Wales could expect to see its tattoo parlours open again.
He said: “We remain hopeful that at the end of next week, we will be able to give the go-ahead for hairdressers to open from the following Monday. That depends on the state of coronavirus at the time.
“We’re going to learn from how hairdressers open, and show they can safely open, to give us confidence to move on to places such as tattooists where the two-metre rule is more difficult.”