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CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER Dr Tony Holohan said evidence indicates that schools are a low risk setting for the transmission of the coronavirus as the rules on close contacts are set to change from tomorrow.
With contact tracing set to stop in childcare and primary schools, Dr Holohan said now is the “right time” to evolve the approach while maintaining infection prevention and control measures in educational settings.
The public health chief said the return of children and young people to school earlier this month was associated with a “significant increase” in the numbers of children referred for testing.
However he said that despite the increase in testing, there has “only been a relatively modest” increase in the detection of cases in the school going age group.
“Both nationally and internationally, the evidence tells us that schools are a low risk setting for the transmission of Covid-19 among school-going children,” Dr Holohan said.
Now is the right time to evolve our contact tracing approach, while maintaining the infection prevention and control measures in place in educational settings.
Contact tracing of close contacts in childcare facilities and primary education and testing of asymptomatic close contacts in childcare facilities and primary education will no longer be necessary from tomorrow.
Dr Holohan said children aged 12 or under, who are identified as close contacts in childcare and educational settings or other non-household settings and who are asymptomatic will no longer be required to routinely restrict movements.
Cases in Special Educational Needs settings, and respite care should have a Public Health Risk Assessment which may still require children to be identified as close contacts, be referred for testing and have their movements restricted.
However Dr Holohan said that given the substantially higher risk of transmission in households, children aged 12 years or under, who are identified as household close contacts, will still be required to restrict movements and be tested, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.
Public health advice also remains that any child aged 12 years or under who displays symptoms consistent with Covid-19 should rapidly self-isolate, not attend childcare or school or socialise and follow all medical and public health guidance.
“At this point in the pandemic, we are all very familiar with the public health advice that will continue to keep us safe, both in school and as we take part in all of the other hobbies and activities that are available to us,” Dr Holohan said.
“Vaccination remains our best means of protection against Covid-19. The vaccines available in Ireland are very safe and effective against Covid-19. If vaccination is available to you, then I strongly encourage you to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Continue to regularly wash hands, wear a mask when appropriate – particularly in retail settings, on public transport and in healthcare settings; keep your distance, open windows and ventilate indoor spaces.
“The most important action to take is – if you display symptoms of Covid-19 like cough, fever, fatigue, headache, or sore throat – isolate and contact your GP who will advise if you need to arrange a test.”
Public health officials confirmed a further 1,459 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland today. A total of 296 people were in hospital with the illness, including 65 in intensive care units.
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It is great to see the country nearly back to normal and 92% of adults have been vaccinated.The job Dr.Holohan and his team did for Ireland was fantastic he should receive the highest award from the president for service to his country.
@Fred Fender: and Fergal Bowers! He was amazing throughout with fantastic objective coverage.
New plan for schools, translated.
“now is the right time to evolve our contract tracing approach” TRANSLATION: “we are stopping contact tracing.”
“while maintaining the infection prevention and control measures” TRANSLATION: “We’re removing a major prevention and contol measure, but we’ll let you keep your hand sanitizer. Don’t complain or I’ll make you close the window.”
“nationally and internationally, the evidence tells us” TRANSLATION: “test and trace just got overwhelmed, but what we don’t know can’t hurt us. Also, we like these international studies of infection rates in schools that either took place pre-Delta, in schools with masks for kids, or while the schools were closed.”
“schools are a low risk setting” TRANSLATION: “if I just keep saying it, maybe it’ll come true.”
@Mac Muinteoir: A teacher complaining…. Well I never. Not even a month back after the three months off.
@Denis Ryan: booooooooooo
@Denis Ryan: congratulations on receiving the prize for the most predictable , begrudging and ill informed comment of the day . You’ll get your likes but lose a lot of your dignity . For once step back and acknowledge how stressful the classroom is at the moment . You won’t but you should .
@Denis Ryan: what a gobdaw
@Denis Ryan: notice how you couldn’t accurately contradict the actual argument???
@Graham Manning: Teachers out in force tonight, have an early one ye have a whole five hours of work to do tomorrow.
@Denis Ryan: jealousy will get ya giggled at honey.
@Graham Manning: jealousy of a teachers salary. Not really, wouldn’t suit my lifestyle. Used to achieving not looking for a handy number.
@Denis Ryan: I’ll take my salary, holidays, pension, job satisfaction and achievements. Thanks
@Denis Ryan: I’d say quit while you’re ahead, but you’re not even there… Not even close.
@Denis Ryan: do you really think we only do 5 hours of work?
@Conor Flood: He is correct though. Public Health advice given during this pandemic was possibly the most conservative on this planet. Now the advice is based on the data and the risks involved but of course this can never satisfy the naysayers. Most teachers are glad and happy to be getting back to normal, however there is a sizable minority that have never been happy, are not happy now and never will be happy. This is driven by the most moaniest, whingeist union in this country.
@Conor Flood: how is it more stressful? could you please elaborate?
@Paul Kelleher: in terms of teachers that’s a complete load of tripe.
So the solution to the contact tracing system being completely overwhelmed and collapsing is to just stop? Not trumpian at all.
Interesting that schools have also been advised not to tell parents if there’s a confirmed case in their child’s class.
Couldn’t make this level of incompetence, dereliction and lies up.
@Graham Manning: honestly don’t understand why they are advising schools not to communicate to parents that covid is in the classroom. It’s utterly irresponsible. Whatever about keeping kids in school, what about parents that are trying to keep vulnerable family members safe? If the kid that sits beside my kid in school tests positive, I’d like to know she’s a close contact so I can keep her away from grandparents for a bit, or get her tested. What about parents of kids with “underlying conditions”? Who does it benefit to keep parents in the dark?
@Mac Muinteoir: My guess is that they don’t want parents knowing about a positive classroom case because thirty parents might turn up to get their children tested from each class that has one and overwhelming the system again, it’s actually unbelievable that they think this is ok. Parents have a right to know.
@Mac Muinteoir: cos they want to pretend there’s no Covid in schools as opposed to putting the measures in place to ensure as close to that as possible. Basically the same crap they’ve been at since day one.
You would wonder why the under 18s can’t use the tracker app, like everyone else in Ireland. At least that can time how near they were to others and send alerts. It doesn’t make sense to have it and not use it in classrooms. Muted phones, but still tracking other phones via Bluetooth.
I keep a contact diary myself but I’m always aware that a sick person might not be able to remember who was near them for more than 15 minutes – the app is handy.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: most not allowed phones in school.
@Mac Muinteoir: my only daughter Mother of 4 kids has been diagnosed with brain tumour and it’s been a very nerve-wracking time for her, her husband and her children and us her parents and siblings.! Praying for a miracle!
Good man tony..
Does this mean pods are gone in childcare now?
@CarmelOh: “while maintaining the infection prevention and control measures in place in educational settings.” It appears pods will continue for the moment
@CarmelOh: pods and pretendy.
@Graham Manning: apologies…”are” pretendy.
@Graham Manning: they are also being used by childcare providers to reduce the hours care available while charging the same price!
@CarmelOh: do they have a choice though?
have your say