Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:431. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if school-specific contact tracing teams remain in place to support schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7662/22]
View answerTuesday, 15 February 2022
Questions (431)
Written answers
Contact tracing remains in place for primary school age children who are household close contacts. Any child who is identified by the HSE as a household close contact has to restrict their movements and not attend school except for those who have recovered from COVID-19 following a positive PCR or antigen test carried out since December 1st 2021.
In addition from the end of November 2021, antigen testing was introduced in primary schools in circumstances where children are part of a classroom pod and where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19. Offering antigen tests to children who are identified as part of a pod in which there was a confirmed case of COVID-19, is an additional measure to support parents and schools. Where there are two cases in a class in more than one pod within a seven day period, antigen testing will be offered to every child in the class. In the case of special schools, where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a class, antigen testing will be offered to every child in the class.