[ad_1]
The acting medical director has mobilized to reassure parents about the Covid-19 outbreaks in schools in an open letter.
Dr. Ronan Glynn said that the concern of parents and teachers regarding their son at school was “natural” and that the decision to reopen the schools was not “taken lightly.”
He said: “There will be cases of COVID-19 among children in the coming days and weeks, as there have been throughout this pandemic to date.
“But when this happens, our public health teams at the HSE will respond and engage closely with the school involved and ensure that all necessary steps are taken to protect other students and school personnel.
(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)
“International evidence shows us that transmission of COVID-19 from child to child and from child to adult in schools is rare.
“Furthermore, our own experience to date in Ireland, and indeed that reported internationally, shows that for the vast majority of children diagnosed with COVID-19, their symptoms will be mild.”
Dr Glynn said the decision to reopen the schools was based on guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
And for the scientific evidence on risk in schools and staff and on the experiences of other countries with open schools.
He said: “Of course, as we continue to navigate through this pandemic, there are no zero-risk options for reopening schools or any other environment; the goal, therefore, is to reopen in the safest way possible ensuring that all the adequate public health measures, such as physical distancing, hand washing and respiratory hygiene, when appropriate ”.
Dr. Glynn reminded parents that it was okay to send children to school if they “just have a runny nose or a sneeze.”
But if you are concerned that a child will have symptoms of Covid-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste and smell, then “leave them at home until you have spoken to your GP on the phone.”
In signing his letter, Dr. Glynn thanked the parents and school staff for all they have done to keep communities and families safe over the past seven months.
[ad_2]
