TWO MORE SCHOOLS SEND PUPILS HOMES

Classes cancelled in Kerry after virus cases identified

TWO schools in Co. Kerry yesterday sent some pupils home after students tested positive for Covid-19.

It was reported last night that a primary school sent home two classes after a child was confirmed to have the virus, while a secondary school in the same region sent home a class after a pupil also received a positive test result.

These are the fourth and fifth known schools to send children home or cancel classes due to positive Covid-19 test results among students since schools began reopening last week. On Wednesday night, a school in Co. Clare shut due to a confirmed positive case.

Parents were notified that the school would be closed for at least a week, after staff members were confirmed as close contacts of a positive case. The school said it was not possible to remain open with no permanent staff members.

The first school to send some of its pupils home was a primary school in Dublin early this week, after a child tested positive. This pupil had returned from the summer holidays the previous Wednesday. However, the principal said the child did not contract the virus in school.

Another school in west Dublin also sent pupils home, as they were identified as close contacts of a child who had the virus.

However, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn reassured parents this week that it is ‘entirely normal’ that children are going to contract this virus.

Meanwhile, in the North, a primary school in Co. Armagh sent a class home after a child tested positive for Covid-19. Donal Keenan, principal of Jonesborough Primary School, said the child’s classmates may be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Earlier this week, Education Minister Norma Foley said that priority testing will be provided in schools where an outbreak of Covid-19 has been confirmed. Ms Foley told the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response that she had raised the issue with the Department of Health and the HSE.

Ms Foley said: ‘Priority testing will be provided where there is an outbreak in a school, and schools will be treated no differently to the priority testing that is being provided in other environments where a situation of that nature occurs.’

She added that she understood the ‘trauma and worry’ of families who are in that situation.

The committee also heard that in the event of an outbreak it will ‘not be automatically assumed’ that a whole class will be deemed as close contacts. Instead close contacts will