

”BUBBLE BUDDIES”: A Solution


“We can’t let perfect be the enemy of good.”
With no distancing requirements for JK to grade 12, “definite” exposure to TWO classmates is better than “highly probable” exposure to 8+ students. Setup students in groups of THREE. ...1/4
In a class of 24, EACH GROUP MEMBER is 1 metre away from the OTHER two... But the ENTIRE GROUP is 2+ metres away from ALL other groups. If put into rows, “middle” kids will be 1.2 to 1.6 m away from 8 kids, and will have direct/indirect exposure to ALL 24 classmates. ...2/4
Aside from safety benefits, this will aide in contract tracing. In a grade three class of 24 students, if 1 child tests positive, there will only be TWO other contacts. If students are NOT put into “bubble buddies of 3”, no masking/distancing means 23 contacts. ...3/4
For my PHU if the 2 kids in my son’s elementary school bubble come from bubbles of 10, my son’s risk of encountering COVID is 0.7%. Without bubbles, it becomes 7.3+%. As a parent this increased risk is UNACCEPTABLE. We owe it to our kids to do everything we can to keep them safe.
SIDE NOTES: 1. If we can group students with busmates, existing social bubble companions, or a family member, the chance of exposure decreases even more. 2. A group of 2 means students are 20 cm closer than the row solution to TWO students, but distanced from EVERYONE else. Fair?
ADDENDUM: Here is the same arrangement for 24 kids using elementary size desks... https://twitter.com/patrickluckie/status/1291531822237650944
Read on Twitter