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An elementary school in Co Clare has to close for at least a week after several staff members were identified as close contacts of a confirmed case of Covid-19.
In a message to parents, the school said it couldn’t stay open without a permanent staff member.
“We expect to reopen on Wednesday, September 9, unless otherwise indicated.
“Currently this has no implications for students and no student has been identified as a close contact to date.
“We regret the closure of the school but we are required to follow the HSE guidelines.”
It is understood that the school children were supposed to make their Holy Communion this weekend. Parents have not yet been informed if this will continue.
Earlier today, a second Dublin school had to ask students to restrict their movements for 14 days after a student tested positive for Covid-19.
The primary school in West Dublin sent several pupils home yesterday who were deemed “close contacts” of the affected student.
An email was sent to parents yesterday and students in the boy’s class were asked to restrict his movements for two weeks and to follow all public health advice.
The classroom is understood to have undergone a deep cleaning.
One parent said the school is “following all protocols” and “we are all fighting this together.”
The school principal urged parents to “stay calm” and said these situations will arise for schools in the coming weeks.
Distance lessons will be provided for students who must stay at home.
It is the second school in the capital that has had to send students home after a coronavirus diagnosis.
The school was not named by officials, and the HSE and Education Minister Norma Foley insisted they cannot comment on individual cases.
An email that was sent to parents said that while everyone was being notified about this case, the school “will not inform all parents of each individual case unless directed to do so by public health.”
Per HSE guidelines, schools do not have to alert all parents if there has been a confirmed case, only the student’s “close contacts.”
Parents were also told that siblings of students in the class sent home can still attend school if they show no symptoms.
“As you know, public health has stated that these cases will be unavoidable in schools and therefore it is inevitable that there will be more such cases in the coming year,” the email read to parents.
“If any student becomes symptomatic, they should contact their GP.”
Students were asked to stay home for 14 days and were informed that in the meantime, live lessons will be taught on Zoom.
“I wish to congratulate the public health officials who acted swiftly on this matter and our school community is very encouraged by the efficiency of the public health officials and their thorough, thorough, and prompt intervention in this case,” said the principal.
“The school has been following all public health protocols for the reopening of the schools and I want to thank the families who have been very supportive of the reopening of the school.
“The school will continue to follow the public health and Department of Education and Skills directives for schools in all matters, now and in the future.”
The school reopened last Wednesday and will remain open, confirmed the principal.
In a separate development, Chinese biopharmaceutical company WuXi has confirmed that six people at its Dundalk campus have tested positive for Covid-19.
Another 20 self-isolate according to public health councils.
Near
WuXi Biologics Plant in Mullagharlin
In a statement today, the company, which has about 1,700 people working on campus, of whom 90 percent are contractors, said: “As of today, we have been informed that six employees from two contractor companies participated in construction work at the WuXi campus biopharmaceutical in Dundalk, Co Louth, tested positive for Covid-19.
“The construction management has been working closely with the contractors and all parties involved to protect against the occurrence of Covid-19 at the site.”
The company said today that, “Since the return to construction work in May 2019, following the national shutdown, Covid-19 response protocols and procedures have been applied on-site and HSE guidelines have been applied regarding testing. , tracking and site security protocols. strictly followed. “
“It is understood that four of the six people who contracted the infection did so in a social setting unrelated to the workplace. Once a Covid-19 occurrence is reported, track and trace procedures are applied, and asks immediate co-workers to test for Covid -19 and isolate off-site for a period of 14 days as mandated by health authorities.In total, as of today, 20 contractors remain in self-isolation.
In addition to a comprehensive health and safety communications regime to prevent Covid-19, there is a system in place on campus to ensure that as soon as a case is reported to WuXi Biologics, all WuXi contractors and employees on site are informed. .
“All contractors must immediately contact their employees and take all necessary and appropriate precautionary measures as established by the HSE with respect to contact tracing and testing and other security protocols.
“The WuXi Biologics campus construction project team has followed the specific advice of the Government, HSE, CIF, and project management policy regarding Covid-19 prevention and a strict prevention regime is in place. Covid-19 throughout the construction campus.
“That regime requires individual workers to clean their tool boxes upon arrival on site, compliance regarding social distancing and appropriate health, safety and hygiene regulations, as well as a thorough cleaning of all buildings and other areas in the site after notification of positive tests.
“Our thoughts are with the six individuals, those in isolation and their families during this troubling time. We wish each of them a speedy recovery,” the company added.
In 2018, the company announced a € 325 million investment in the Dundalk facility, which will become the world’s largest single-use biologics manufacturing contract production facility.
400 positions will be created at the WuXi Biologics operation and another 200 at WuXi Vaccines, which was announced last year.
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