School told maskless students were not close contacts with SNA despite 'intimate care level'

The school was told that due to compliance with social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines, there was “zero risk of transmission”.

Vulnerable students in class with a special needs assistant (SNA) who tested positive for Covid-19 were not deemed close contacts by the HSE, even though they were not wearing masks.

The SNA at a Cork secondary school tested positive two weeks ago, but had been teaching the week prior to contracting the virus.