LOCAL SCHOOLS REACT QUICKLY TO COVID CASES

SCHOOLS in County Wicklow are among those that have had to implement Covid-19 protocols over the last week as a result of positive cases being recorded or test results pending.

St Patrick’s Loreto Primary School, in Bray, informed parents that it was notified of two positive Covid-19 cases.

A risk assessment was carried out by the HSE and contact was made with anyone deemed to be a close contact of a confirmed case.

The school is also strictly following all public health and HSE advice and is being guided by the HSE.

In Temple Carrig Secondary School in Greystones the parents were informed last week that following a confirmed case of in one year, a number of staff have were called for testing.

The parents were told that as many as 20 teachers might be forced to stay out of school for Covid reasons.

However, it’s also understood that the school wasn’t given any notice of that from the Public Health Department and that it came to the school’s attention when teachers started getting text messages about testing around 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15.

The school implemented a strategy to work around the staff shortages and arrangements were also made with regard to class and year groups with some of them being advised to remain at home for logistical reasons.

However, there was no additional risk posed to those year groups and the changes were only necessary as a result of the Public Health Department requiring a large number of teachers to remain out of the school pending test results.

Parents in St Anne’s National School in Shankill, were also notified of a confirmed Covid-19 case in the school on Tuesday, September 15.

The parents were told that a public health risk assessment was undertaken and the parents of any children deemed to be close contacts of the confirmed case would be contacted and advised accordingly.

Parents of children in the affected pod at the school were contacted in accordance with recommended guidelines.