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This week, children across the country returned to school after six months out of the classroom, after the Covid-19 pandemic led to school closings in March.
For many, going back to school was an exciting time to catch up with friends and teachers, but some children were a little nervous.
RTÉ’s children’s news program, news2day, spoke with acting medical director Dr. Ronan Glynn to answer some of the questions children have about living with the virus now.
Dr. Glynn said that we are still living with the virus, but we are dealing with it and have learned a lot over the past six months, which is part of what has helped schools reopen.
He said that the reopening of the schools was a really important milestone.
Dr. Glynn said that there are still around 100 cases of the virus every day, but that most cases will be mild.
He said that everyone sometimes worries about the virus and that it is normal to be worried.
Where are we now with the virus?
“We still have cases of the virus every day,” Dr. Glynn said.
“Usually we have around 100 new cases every day in Ireland, but the vast majority of those cases are mild, but we report them and watch them very closely, because what we don’t want to happen is that we have hundreds and hundreds. of cases like we did in April “.
The key to keeping it under control, he said, is washing our hands and doing what our teachers ask us to do at school.
Many children really miss being in school and are delighted to be back, but some may be worried about it. What would you say to those children?
“It’s not unusual to worry sometimes, especially when you haven’t been to school for six months,” Dr. Glynn said.
“It’s a bit strange going back to that environment. But a lot of work has been done in the last few months.”
He said you might notice some changes – you might be sitting in a capsule, you might notice a one-way system down the hall, your parents might have to see you off at the school gates.
“There will be a lot of little changes, but all those little changes have to do with keeping yourself safe, and keeping the other kids and keeping your teacher safe,” he said.
There may be new changes over time, but that’s all part of keeping everyone safe, he said.
There have been cases of Covid-19 in all ages and it is “completely normal” for children to contract the virus, Dr. Glynn said.
The vast majority of children with this “may have cold or flu symptoms” for a few days and then get better.
“Very few children have significant side effects from this, but whenever we have a case in children, what we do not want is for other children to contract it, because we want to stop this virus in its tracks.”
What can children do now to stop the spread of Covid-19?
“The first thing you need to do is wash your hands, that applies to everyone in all age groups,” Dr. Glynn said.
And don’t put your hands under the tap to rinse them, he said. It has to be 20 seconds, around your soapy hands.
“You have a very important role to play in getting other people to do the right things,” he said.
If you have questions about Covid-19, please email them to [email protected] for Dr. Ronan Glynn to answer.
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