Kerry School students were recommended to stay home until December 30 after 17 cases of Covid were confirmed

ALL STUDENTS at an elementary school in Co Kerry have been told to restrict their movements after 17 people tested positive for Covid-19.

Parents of Scoil Mhuire students in Killorglin were sent a letter from the HSE to say that a public health team is investigating the Covid-19 outbreak and that contact tracing has started for all 17 confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, all other students at the school will be referred for two tests by the HSE and will receive advice on the times and dates of those tests. The staff will also be evaluated.

The letter warns that any child who has not previously been identified as a Covid-19 case, or a close contact of a confirmed case, should restrict their movements for 14 days, that is until December 30.

‘Restricting your movements’ means not physically attending school and avoiding contact with people and social situations as much as possible, including not going to stores unless necessary. The homes of school staff and students should also restrict their movements until Covid-19 test results return.

Any child previously identified as a case or close contact does not need to be referred for further testing, the letter cautions.

“In the Irish experience with Covid-19 so far, it has been rare to see an outbreak of this scale among the school population,” the letter read.

“The school management in Scoil Mhuire had implemented, and continues to implement, appropriate Covid control measures.”