A Clare native infectious disease expert says there’s no doubt that re-opening schools will have a small affect on the spread of Covid-19 in this country.
It comes as the first CO2 monitors are beginning to arrive for the new school year, in an effort to make classtooms safer, as schools prepare for the return of students this week.
A new HSE report has found that children made up 17 percent of all cases reported last term.
The HSE says 4 per cent of the total number of children in Ireland aged up to 18 got the virus across the full academic year.
Just 18 schools were asked to exclude ALL staff and students while testing was carried out and where outbreaks were recorded, they were usually small-scale with 2 to 3 subsequent cases within friendship groups.
The report says 39 cases were identified among Leaving Certificate students, 21 of which were forced to miss exams to complete their isolation period, while 14 students missed exams due to being a close contact.
The HSE’s Public Health Schools Response Lead, Dr Abigail Collins says it was more likely that adults would spread the virus in schools.
As schools prepare to return this week, Co2 monitors are being delivered to help monitor the air quality in classrooms, at an overall cost of 4 million euro.
Not every classroom will be issued with a monitor, with schools expected to distribute them where they’re needed most.
General Secretary of the Teacher’s Union of Ireland, Michael Gillespie says these monitors will be particularly helpful heading into the winter months.
A Clare infectious disease expert believes there’s no doubt re-opening schools will lead to increased spread of the virus.
Professor James McInerney, who is the Head of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, says the best defence against the virus is for members of the community to ensure it doesn’t get into schools in the first place.
The Sixmilebridge man is hopeful that with mitigation measures in place, levels of the virus should remain low.
