Covid situation in schools to be monitored over Christmas holidays

In recent weeks, children aged between five and 12 have recorded the highest incidence rate of coronavirus out of all age groups in the country. File photo

The Covid-19 situation in schools will be monitored by public health over the Christmas holidays and the Department of Education will “pivot in one direction” if required, according to the Minister for Education. 

Norma Foley was speaking as schools across the country finished up for their Christmas holidays. On Wednesday morning, Ms Foley, along with officials from the Department of Education and public health, met with the education unions.

“We have learned from Covid that there may be many twists and turns. We have to be resigned to meet these challenges," Ms Foley told RTÉ. “Whatever additional measures are required – we will do.”

The Minister said that 90,000 antigen tests had been delivered to schools around the country, which have recorded a positivity rate of 3.6% with a 2% positivity rate in follow-up PCR tests.

Following the meeting with officials on Wednesday, an INTO spokesman said it called for a “detailed review” of the first semester and reiterated its call for the re-introduction of significant public health supports in schools.

At a meeting with Minister for Education Norma Foley, officials from the Department of Education and Public Health, the INTO set out the need for a detailed review of the first semester and called for the reintroduction of significant public health supports in schools. 1/3

— INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) (@INTOnews) December 22, 2021

“Public Health officials have agreed to review supports for primary schools, including addressing reporting mechanisms and response times in the case of outbreaks in these schools.”

The union also set out the need for a more creative public awareness campaign to be rolled out in advance of schools reopening in the new term, and to ensure a meeting with the education partners takes place during the holidays. Both points were agreed to by the Government, he added.

Funding has also been made available to schools to improve ventilation issues, which can be used to purchase high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters. The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) called on the Department of Education to provide clear guidance and access to expertise on ventilation. A spokesman said that "if individual schools require additional funding over and above what has been provided for such solutions, this must be made available." 

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) is also seeking the prioritising of ventilation and measures to ensure adequate heating in schools, as it is "imperative" that schools are provided with timely and clear advice. In recent weeks, children aged between five and 12 have recorded the highest incidence rate of Covid-19 out of all age groups in the country.

More than 13,300 children under the age of 12 tested positive for Covid-19 between December 7 and midnight on December 20, HSPC figures show. More than 3,800 teenagers between the age of 13 and 18 also tested positive during the same timeframe.  

The national policy on contact tracing was changed towards the end of September after a high number of students were forced to miss two weeks of school while isolating as close contacts. From the end of September, asymptomatic primary school children were no longer required to isolate if they were considered a school close-contact, or a creche close-contact. 

Many principals found the first term of the school year difficult due to the spread of the Delta variant with many schools finding it hard to source substitute teachers to cover for those who were sick or forced to isolate. Many primary schools also saw attendance rates fluctuate.

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