Wednesday 06 January
We may be in a new year but it is clear that the craziness of 2020 continues.
It has taken me an age to write my post this evening because I have been watching incredible scenes playing out in Washington DC. The capitol building was stormed by thousands of pro-Trump protesters. These remarkable events were promoted by Trump in a talk he gave to the crowd just beforehand. The invasion of the government buildings broke up the activities inside, hijacking the formal handover from Trump to Biden. Mad scenes.
At one minute past midnight this morning, the latest (third) nationwide lockdown became law. People can only leave home to go to work if they cannot work from home, for supplies or medication, to go to school if you are in a specific category.
Today there were over a thousand Covid19 related deaths in the last twenty-four hours and there are thirty thousand people in hospital being treated for the disease. These are the worst figures since the outbreak started last spring. There were over sixty thousand new cases reported today too.
We started the rapid testing programme at work today. In full PPE, we completed thirteen tests for staff and afterwards I reflected how this professional role of teacher has adapted over time. Obviously, this last year has seen unprecedented nationwide expectations of teachers and school leaders. Staff seem encouraged by having these weekly tests and it will hopefully allow more staff and pupils to remain in school, reduce infection and/or self-isolation.
Oh, and the government have announced that GCSE and A’Level exams will not take place again this summer. Stan has mixed emotions. It’s all crazy.
I need to sign off now. It’s a ridiculously surreal time, again. I need some sleep. So, I will end with a tweet by Ben Watt to calm the nerves and ground me…
The Bald Birder 