Schools not zero risk but ‘opening is better option’ says acting CMO

Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, , Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group and Dr. Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE pictured this evening (Thursday 27th August) at a Covid -19 update press conference at the Department of Health.....Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Schools are not a zero-risk option, the acting chief medical officer has told parents and teachers, but their reopening has been carefully weighed against "the very real harm" that can be caused by sustained closures.

As the majority of schools at both primary and post-primary level return this week after a break of almost six months, Dr Ronan Glynn penned an open letter to parents and guardians, and teachers and school staff, in which he reassured them that while cases of the coronavirus will be detected in the coming weeks in educational settings, evidence indicates that for the overwhelming majority, symptoms will be mild.