[ad_1]
Public health officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a substantial Covid-19 outbreak that has forced a primary school in Cork to close until December.
All students and staff at Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire should be tested as a precautionary measure after 17 cases of the virus have been detected among students.
All staff and students have also been advised to restrict their movements until December 8. It is understood that the majority of children who have tested positive for Covid-19 are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms of the virus.
The school declined to comment when contacted by the Irish Examiner, but in an earlier statement, it said it had followed HSE guidelines at all times.
It is understood that many parents had taken their children out of school as a precautionary measure since last week when details of confirmed cases in the school community began to emerge. The decision to close the school was made as a “precautionary measure” while the clinical assessment of public health risks continues, an HSE spokeswoman said.
The Department of Public Health is in close contact with the school principal to assess the situation and provide advice and support to parents, teachers and students, he added.
“We thank the staff, students, and families for their cooperation with this measure, which will ensure the safety of students, staff, and the community at large.”
“We would like to assure both the school community and the wider community that the local Department of Public Health, with the support of national colleagues, is working closely with the school to ensure that the outbreak is investigated and controlled.”
Local Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan said there was some concern in the community regarding the outbreak.
“But in this situation, the school did what it was ordered to do. They have been compiled with HSE advice and they have done their best to be fair to them. “
There were another 19 school-related outbreaks last week, according to new figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Center (HPSC). This is almost double what was recorded the previous week when there were ten school-related outbreaks.
More than 200 outbreaks have been linked in schools since the beginning of the school year.
The HPSC defines an outbreak as two or more cases, and says that in the case of schools, intra-school transmission has not necessarily been established.
In terms of schools, the HPSC says these outbreaks are associated with children and, or, school personnel.
[ad_2]