Community 'shocked' as Tipperary school closes due to Covid outbreak

Presentation primary school Carrick-on-Suir, which has more than 300 pupils, told parents on Monday morning it was suspending its classes with immediate effect

It is understood the school had informed a number of parents of 2nd class pupils over the weekend that their child had been deemed a close contact Picture: Larry Cummins

A school in Co Tipperary has closed its doors on Monday after an outbreak of Covid-19.

The Presentation primary school in Carrick-on-Suir, which has over 300 pupils, told parents on Monday morning it was suspending its classes with immediate effect.

It is now waiting for public health specialists to carry out a full risk assessment. An update on classes is expected to be provided to parents later on Monday evening.

It is understood there were two confirmed cases at the school, and the closure was a "precautionary" measure.

The school had informed a number of parents of 2nd class pupils over the weekend that their child had been deemed a close contact of a diagnosed case and the decision was then taken on Monday morning to suspend classes. 

Parents received a text at around 11am to collect their children from the school.

It is believed an outbreak arose elsewhere in the town, which is on the Tipperary-Waterford border.

An outbreak numbering seven cases arose at a direct provision centre in the town, it is understood. 

Management at Bridgewater House declined to comment on the number of cases at the centre.

The member of management said that residents, of which there are believed to be over 100, do not use communal kitchens currently and instead have their own food preparation facilities.

Some 30 cases of Covid-19 were recorded for Tipperary in Sunday's figures, while 32 were confirmed for Waterford.

"It has come as a bit of a shock to the community," said local councillor David Dunne. 

There's a lot of wicked rumours going around but I'd ask people to just deal with cold hard facts and at the moment the only facts we have is that a school has closed as a precautionary measure.

When contacted, a spokesperson said the Department of Education does not comment on individual cases.

The spokesperson added: "The Department of Health and the HSE have reaffirmed that schools in themselves are low-risk environments and that a gradual phased reopening can occur at this time. 

"Public health has reviewed the measures put in place to ensure the safe operation of schools and is satisfied that these infection prevention and control measures, if rigorously adhered to, will keep the school community safe during this period."

The HSE has a well-established protocol in place to support schools where there is a confirmed Case of Covid-19 connected with a school, the spokesperson said.

As part of the public health risk assessment, all relevant persons including close contacts of a diagnosed case will be contacted, while the school management will be advised on the appropriate action, on a "case-by-case basis".

They added that "enhanced" public health schools’ teams are available to carry out full contact tracing and bulk fast-track testing within the school setting is in place as schools reopen.