Were we ready to send pupils back?
Fears mount as two more schools have virus cases
TWO more primary schools in Dublin have confirmed cases of Covid-19, prompting concern among parents and teachers about how ready schools were to open.
The total number of schools affected by cases of the virus now stands at seven – just a week into the reopening of schools nationwide.
It was reported last night that one of the latest schools is on the north side of Dublin, while the other is on the south side.
It is understood that parents were contacted by the schools, but it is not yet known whether the cases were identified in students or staff members.
These are the sixth and seventh schools in the country to confirm positive cases of the virus within their communities since schools reopened last week.
The news broke as it was announced 98 new cases of the virus were confirmed across the country yesterday.
On Tuesday, a primary school in Dublin was the first school to send some pupils home after a child tested positive. This pupil had only returned to school 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.
On Thursday, a secondary school and primary school, understood to be in the same region in Co. Kerry, sent some students home due to confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, a primary school in Co. Clare shut its doors due to a confirmed 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.
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.
He also wrote an open letter to parents insisting that the decision to reopen schools was not taken lightly. ‘The importance of schools for the overall health and wellbeing of children cannot be overstated, and the risk of Covid-19 has been carefully weighed against the very real harm that can be caused by sustained school closures,’ he said. Education Minister Norma Foley confirmed this week 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.
There were no further deaths from the virus confirmed last night, so the total remains at 1,777. Of the 98 new cases, which bring the total here to 29,303, there were 24 in Dublin, 13 in Kildare, eight in Kerry, six each in Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick and Louth, and five in Tipperary. The other 30 were in Carlow, Clare, Cork, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford.
Dr Glynn reminded people to remain aware of social distancing as we head into the weekend.
‘Have no more than six visitors to your home and keep two metres between you. Open windows and keep rooms well ventilated if possible,’ he warned.
‘It’s important that we all keep our number of social contacts low while we focus on keeping our schools safe, continuing to resume healthcare services and ultimately protecting the most vulnerable from Covid-19.’
Between August 25 and September 1, every county recorded Covid cases. Dublin saw the largest surge, with 348 new cases in that time.