Tell us what to do in outbreaks - teachers
Staff are still being kept out of the loop on guidelines
PRINCIPALS and teachers are calling for firmer protocols on what to do in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak in schools.
Preparations by schools have been ongoing including introducing social distancing in classrooms, staggered break times and increased hygiene measures.
Over summer, guidance was issued from the Department of Education but it failed to articulate exactly what a school should do with a confirmed Covid-19 case.
Pairic Clerkin, CEO of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network told the Irish Mail on Sunday that this information could have been given weeks ago. He said: ‘Schools are still waiting on definitive guidelines around what to do if there is a Covid-19 case, what are the step-bystep guidelines to take.
‘The HSE sent out guidelines to parents on when they should and shouldn’t send their children to school and that is welcomed but we do need guidelines for schools, we have been assured it’s on the way.
‘We should have had this information weeks ago but the reality is we have the Department of Education and the Department of Health trying to agree with each other. But there has been updated guidance coming out on a day-by-day basis.’
An ASTI spokesperson said the organisation is seeking rapid testing where there are suspected virus cases in school communities but didn’t share Mr Clerkin’s concern over specific guidelines on how to deal with outbreaks.
When asked under what circumstances a school would close, a HSE spokesperson told the MoS it is ‘a multi-layered and complex decision that requires an in-depth public health risk assessment.
‘Guidance on that will be available imminently.’
When asked if a school may be shut down in parts – for example, if a 5th class student contracts Covid19 will the class be sent home – the HSE spokesperson said: ‘This may happen but will be based on a thorough Public Health Risk Assessment.’
One principal, Dr Mairéad Hennessy, who has previously told the MoS of how her school has prepared for reopening this week, said that welcoming the children back has been wonderful but clear protocols are needed on what to do in the event of an outbreak particularly heading into the winter months. She said: ‘I know we hand it over to the HSE but it would be beneficial to have protocol to know all schools are doing the exact same thing.
‘It’s a very serious issue... What are the practical things if there is a confirmed case? Do I close that class down? Do I need to close the school down? What happens if there are siblings of that child in another class? Does that class need to close as well. You can’t send every child home who coughs, because you’d have no children left.’
Earlier this week, Dr Colm Henry, HSE chief clinical officer, gave some detail to the Oireachtais Committee on Covid-19 on an algorithm which will be communicated to principals in the event of an outbreak.
He said: ‘We have developed an algorithm working with experts in paediatrics, general practice, primary care and public health. This algorithm and the pathway were discussed with almost 2,000 GPs in a webinar two nights ago. It describes the series of actions that will be taken once a suspect case emerges in a school.
He added: ‘It balances the need for continuity in education with the need to identify cases where they emerge with children.
‘For example, children with sniffles or mild upper respiratory tract symptoms do not warrant testing and can continue to attend at school while those more specific symptoms such as cough, respiratory symptoms, loss of taste or loss of smell do merit isolation and testing.
This algorithm is for GPs and will be communicated clearly to principals in schools to enable them to take the appropriate set of actions should there be a suspect case in school.’
The Department of Education said decisions are taken on a case-bycase basis on whether to fully or partially close a school, as set out in guidance issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and that the it was currently developing further guidance ‘to support schools to be able to respond in an agile way in the event of localised school closures’.
‘We should have had this info weeks ago’
Decisions taken on a case-by-case basis