Paul McAuliffe
Question:1240. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if he will categorise teachers as front-line workers for the purpose of Covid-19 testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32752/20]
View answerTuesday, 3 November 2020
Questions (1240)
Written answers
HSE Public Health Doctors recently met with education stakeholders including the teacher unions. The HSE acknowledged the incredible effort made in all school communities throughout the country to operate in a Covid-19 safe manner. The measures that are in place are robust, and the safety of staff and children is of paramount concern.
Evidence shows that those efforts have proven very successful. Clearly the increase of Covid-19 cases in the community does pose a challenge as there will be more cases in schools as a result, but it is important to note that schools are not amplification settings for cases of Covid-19. Testing data from schools is reassuring, with a positivity rate of 2.3% of close contacts across all school sectors.
The HSE is aiming to have processes strengthened by the time schools return after the midterm break. Support teams are being put in place across the HSE's Departments of Public Health with this in mind.
Although the transmission of COVID-19 in the school setting is widely discussed, the data has shown that there where an index case has been identified as associated with a school setting and public health testing is carried out thereafter, to date, there has been a low detected rate of this type of testing. At present the detected rate is at 2.9%. Post Primary is lower at 2%.
The HSE has worked intensively over the last number of months to put in place a comprehensive testing and tracing operation. Enhancements made to the test and trace system has resulted in improved turnaround times. Sufficient capacity now exists to ensure that testing of teachers is conducted in a timely fashion. The HSE's Departments of Public Health continue to conduct risk assessments in response to detected cases linked to schools. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the measures that are in place to ensure the safety of children and students and the evolving requirements around testing and tracing and the prioritisation criteria.