Children who have symptoms related to Covid-19 should avoid attending schools, INTO, the primary school teachers’ union said on Sunday.
“Children can have sore throats, headaches, runny or stuffy nose. They can be feeling sick or vomiting (or have) diarrhoea. Up until the summer children could go to school with those symptoms.” Said John Boyle, general secretary of INTO during a programme with RTE.
“You cannot now go if you have any of those uncommon symptoms or the common symptoms (indicating usually associated with Covid-19).” he added.
The schools in Ireland are planning to reopen soon and the Department of Health had earlier stated that there are practical issues in making mask compulsory for children in primary classes. Mr Boyle’s warning come in light of this.
He also said that, the government is urging workers to get vaccinated as soon as possible. But a small group of workers like people in early stages of pregnancy and those who have compromised immunity were being told it was safe to go back to work for a couple of months and that they would get their vaccine in a couple of months and it was worth taking the risk. This was found incongruous by some of the members, Mr Boyle pointed out.
He said the INTO had also asked the Department of Education that this group of workers should continue to work remotely for the number of weeks involved.
Mr Boyle added that the carbon dioxide monitors for air quality at classrooms will be derived from next week. If schools with wider area need more monitors, they can order it through the Department of Health in September.