Various Covid-19 cases in schools across the district

A NUMBER of cases of Covid-19 have been associated with Coláiste Craobh Abhann in Kilcoole.

Parents were notified last weekend of two cases in the school community. Previously, there were two notified on October 5, and one on October 8.

In all school cases, close contacts of the patient are notified and instructed from that point by the HSE.

Parents of pupils at Newcourt school have been notified of a confirmed cast in the school. They were told in a letter that risk had been removed by the school as the person who tested positive is at home. ‘All necessary action has been taken by public health and by the school and those affected have been notified,’ read the letter.

Parents were told that due to staffing shortages it had been necessary to close a class for a day as no cover was available.

Three cases have been confirmed at Greystones Educate together and families informed.

‘All close contacts in the school - staff and pupils - have been identified and are now restricting their movements,’ parents were told in a letter.

‘While we understand that this information is unsettling we also acknowledge that these situations are going to be the “new normal” and cases like today are going to occur,’ read the letter.

‘We have spent significant time and resources planning and preparing for a situation such as this.

‘Please rest assured that the school continues to follow all protocols and safety routines in line with the Department Return to Schools Framework, our whole-school Covid-19 response plan and risk assessment, and NPHET guidelines, which are designed to minimise the risk of the virus being introduced into the school and the consequent risk of its spread.

The letter urged parents to remain calm and continue on as normal.

‘ The school and staff are obliged to follow direction from the HSE with regard to all information released to the school community and cannot discuss beyond the information contained in this letter, at this time,’ it read.

Parents of students at Bray’s Presentation College were notified last Friday of a confirmed case.

‘ The HSE will deal with those involved from this point forward and are satisfied that the risk of onward transmission has been removed from the school setting,’ parents were told.

Previously at Pres, there was a confirmed case in the school community around October 10, but no close contacts were identified in the school.