Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said that there will be no return to “widespread” contact tracing in schools, despite an increase in cases this month and the incidence of Covid-19 highest among the 5-12 age group.
On Monday 27 September, contact tracing in schools was stopped: if a child was a close contact of a positive Covid-19 cases in a school setting, they would not have to restrict their movements if they had no symptoms.
The testing of asymptomatic close contacts in childcare facilities and primary education was also discontinued.
Children aged 12 and under will still have to restrict their movements and have a Covid-19 test if they are a close contact from a household setting.
Towards the end of September, there was around 5% positivity among children who were the close contacts of a school case, compared to a 25% positivity among children who were close contacts of household cases.
This meant that children who weren’t testing positive for Covid-19 were missing school while self-isolating.
In recent days, due to the rise in Covid-19 cases, there has been some suggestion that there would be a return to contact tracing in schools, or that testing may take plae.
Speaking at the opening of the new 40-bed modular unit at Tipperary University Hospital, the Taoiseach said:
I spoke to the Chief Medical Officer an hour before I arrived – there’s no return to widespread contact tracing for children because we don’t want children out of school for 10 days unnecessarily.
The Taoiseach said that the ECDC advice had “arrived in recent days” that suggested there may be a need for the HSE or NPHET to pilot the use of antigen testing “in selected situations” in schools, but “not on a widespread basis as of yet”.
“Covid is spread in the community more than in schools, and that basically schools have remained safe places for children.”
“Schools are safe places,” he said, but added that there are “wider issues” around respiratory illnesses more generally.
“The CMO was at pains to point out to me, and I’ve had it confirmed on the ward here, the real issue for children is other respiratory illnesses.”
He said that there aren’t many children hospitalised with Covid-19, but there were hospitalisations of children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The latest HSPC data shows that 313 RSV cases were notified this week, with 91% of these cases in the 0-4 age group.
Cases of RSV in Ireland are increasing, the HPSC said, and remain “at higher levels than usually observed at this time of year”.
The Taoiseach also said that Ireland could approve the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines to children aged between five and 12 in the next month.
The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of jabs for children in that age cohort, and the European Medicines Agency is set to consider the same measure.
Micheál Martin said Ireland’s National Immunisation Advisory Committee will also consider the move, but it is “some weeks away”.
With reporting from the Press Association.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I really feel sorry for the primary school teachers who are now once again continuing to work in an environment where the virus is rampant without masks and without proper social distancing . Where s the sympathy for them ?
@Conor Flood: how exactly will sympathy help them? They have the option to be vaccinated if they wish, they can also wear a mask – just like any other sector who have to mingle/interact with others in the workplace
@Angela Lavin: you have no idea of what they face . There is zero social distancing , the cases are rampant , and the vaccine does not offer full protection from infection. I wonder if you’d be as dismissive with your own health and safety .
@Angela Lavin: I’m sure you’ll agree that other indoor workers mingle/interact with other masked individuals, and not with 30+ unmasked people in small rooms. Given the mantra that ‘my mask protects you and your mask protects me’ it’s understandable that teachers and parents of primary aged children might not feel that well protected.
@Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: so if you include parents and family of primary school kids that’s half the country mixing with “unmasked children” in family homes. That brings us back to the original point of everyone’s in the same boat, either in work or at home, visiting family etc …
@Conor Flood: its been nearly 2 year’s….I’d say its time we get on with thing’s. We are where we are and covid isn’t going anywhere, can’t stay locked away forever.
@Angela Lavin: lol and you’re working from home.
As it should be. Children have suffered enough through time away from education. It’s been estimated that globally approximately 5.5 million life years have been lost just due to school closures. Let children learn and develop as intended. It’s shocking that, for a disease less dangerous than the flu for kids, we’ve asked them to pay such a heavy price. A scar we’ll bear for a long time.
@Toon Army: Ah, the classic ‘its less dangerous than the flu’ non argument that instantly devalues your entire contribution.
@Toon Army: Ah yes the flu narrative. Sad as always and no regard to the full picture. Always one. Well done, big rebel…!
@Paul Cunningham: Very little in that “news” link that changes the picture. I’m actually curious how you felt that backs up your point! A quote from your own link: “At the peak of the 2014-15 season, the flu sent twice as many children to the hospital as COVID-19 did from October 2020 through February 2021″. And that is probably over estimating the severity of Covid in children when you look at all the other research out there.
@Toon Army: Just one example – https://www.news-medical.net/amp/news/20210614/Study-suggests-COVID-19-in-children-is-milder-than-the-flu.aspx
@Gavin Mckenna: In children, yes it is less severe. In adults it’s much more deadly. Tell me more about the full picture, please.
@Paul Cunningham:
In nearly 2yrs, 6.3mil American kids have had Covid. 550 died of it.
In 2 flu seasons (2017/2018, 2018/2019) flu killed 186 and 372 children = 558.
Not a lot of difference there except of course they medicated the hell out of those (at-risk-of-soon-dying) flu kids and tried to prevent them going to the hospital. Imagine how much worse those figures might have been if you heartlessly left them at home for 10 days incubating a very nasty, very treatable and in their condition, very life-threatening respiratory disease
@Toon Army: you missed the next bit “But unlike the flu, COVID-19 is around all year, and the appearance of the more transmissible delta variant has swept in or sickened more children this past year than the average flu season does”
@Toon Army: not at all most children are fine
But you need a ticket for late night venues?
what could go wrong
Firstly:
“On Monday 27 September, contact tracing in schools was stopped: if a child was a close contact of a positive Covid-19 cases in a school setting, they would not have to restrict their movements if they had no symptoms”
Secondly:
“Children aged 12 and under will still have to restrict their movements and have a Covid-19 test if they are a close contact from a household setting.”
What’s the difference between between being a close contact in a school setting or a household?? This type of stuff baggers belief….
In my opinion they seem to be making decisions based on future votes… What a complete incompetent bunch we have
@Dave: 5% positivity rate amongst close contact in school v’s 25% positivity amongst close contact with household member
@Adrian™: Household? Where does the virus come into the household? Currently the biggest demographic of infected is 5-12 year olds. It’s clearly spreading in schools and being brought into the home.
They was a man on joe Duffy during the summer saying that the delta variant is more transmissible in children but obviously no one listened. It’s going to exploded.
@John brett: it already has exploded
It got so out of hand in schools that they stopped doing anything about it. Removed all measures and just say it’s safe. But they couldn’t hide the numbers any longer, now everyone knows how bad it is in schools, and Martin and Varadkar are still saying schools are safe. They’re so comfortable with lying, even in the face of facts.
@Rob Gale: absolutely, and in another week or maybe two, they’ll be blaming Nightclubs, even if the numbers are still high in the 5-12 year old range. Why the government cannot stand up and say the truth.
@Rob Gale: Martin varadkar know rightly how bad it is. Afraid of the journalists whingeing cos they dont want their children at home. They want their free time
‘Schools are safe’ I’m sick of hearing that mantra. They certainly worked hard at making appear that way. Contact tracers were entering school transmissions as community transmission. One actually said to a parent ‘Well I can’t put that down (school), I will put community transmission’. The truth doesn’t seem to matter. It’s just a complete mess now. If parents or teachers don’t know who has covid they coukd easily pick it up and get ill themselves or pass it on to some very vulnerable person and kill them.
I remember people when masks were been discussed in schools. “how can u ask primary kids to wear a mask all day in school?” was the general concept.
Strikes me as a reaction to the events of 3/4 weeks back rather than the current increase in cases.
have your say