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An elementary school in Co Mayo will close today for the Christmas holidays due to concerns about the rate of transmission of Covid-19 in the community.
The measure violates Department of Education rules that require all state-funded schools to remain open until next Friday.
Claremorris National Children’s School told parents last night that it believed the early closure was correct and necessary at this stage.
He said that despite failing to secure a sanction for the HSE public health and department closure, “this is the only practical way that we can help prevent a further rise and spread of Covid cases among the school community.” .
He said the decision had been “very difficult.”
Since the school reopened after the midterm break, about a dozen students have tested positive for Covid-19.
The cases have occurred in several different classes. The school has 125 students in classes ranging from the second to the sixth class.
HSE data shows that the Claremorris region currently has one of the highest incidences of the virus nationally.
The current local rate is 258 per 100,000 inhabitants. That’s more than three times the national figure, which stands at 80.
In a statement posted on the school’s website, the school’s principal, Mark Loftus, said; “We are deeply frustrated by the system adopted by the public health at levels of cross infection and the Department regarding Covid-19 and its effects, to insist that schools remain open at all costs.”
Mr. Loftus said he believed that exceptional school closings are necessary.
He said that it had been an extremely stressful, anxious and unfortunate situation for students and families, and that the school had done everything possible to keep the virus out.
Mr. Loftus told RTÉ News that he had pleaded with public health this week to close the school, but had been told there was insufficient evidence of cross-infection within the school.
Mr. Loftus is one of the school staff members who have been considered close contacts and who are currently unable to attend work due to an obligation to restrict their movements.
He said he had found it impossible to get substitute staff to cover absences because any available substitute teacher was “understandably” too eager to get into a school with an ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.
Mr. Loftus said the school felt it had had no choice but to close to try to prevent further spread, especially in the run-up to the Christmas vacation period.
RTÉ News has requested comments from the Department of Education and is awaiting a response.
The Claremorris school closure comes as the latest data from HSE Covid schools shows 60 cases were detected directly in schools last week. This compares with 38 in the previous week.
Last week’s data likely included cases of a relatively large outbreak in a Cork primary school. Of the 60 school cases registered last week, 54 were related to elementary schools.
Testing was conducted in 107 schools last week with 2,368 students and school staff tested. 2.5% of all those tested were positive.
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