Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
286. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if siblings of a close contact can attend primary school while the close contact is awaiting a test and or result; if siblings of a close contact can attend secondary school whilst the close contact is awaiting a test and or result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22899/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSiblings of a close contact do not need to restrict their movements and can attend primary/secondary school while the close contact awaits their test and test result as long as the close contact remains asymptomatic. The HPSC has provided guidance to cover this area.
If a child has no symptoms of COVID-19, but they need to be tested because they have been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19, then as with all close contacts, the child must restrict their movements for 14 days after last contact with the confirmed case and will be tested for COVID-19 at day 0 and day 7. Even if day 0 and day 7 tests come back as ‘not detected’ (negative), the child still need to restrict their movements for 14 days and watch out for symptoms of COVID-19. Household contacts of the child, including siblings, do not need to restrict their movements (they can go to primary/secondary school) while test results are awaited, as long as child who is a close contact remains asymptomatic.
If a child needs a COVID-19 test because they have symptoms of COVID-19, then the child must self-isolate while awaiting their test result and their household contacts, including siblings, must restrict their movements (siblings cannot go to primary/secondary school) while the child awaits their test result.
Detailed information is available on the HPSC website - https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/algorithms/
