The latest report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows there were 24 outbreaks in schools in the last week – three times the number of outbreaks last week which was eight.
A total of 47 cases were identified within those school outbreaks.Outbreaks in childcare facilities also increased by eight to 16.Private houses remains the setting where outbreaks are highest, with 258 reported last week – up by 55.An outbreak is defined by health officials as two or more related Covid cases and this week’s report covers the week to last Saturday, including St Patrick’s Day last Wednesday.
It came in the week when about 340,000 pupils returned to the classroom in the second major phase of school re-opening.The jump also reflects the relatively high level of Covid in the community, which makes its way into schools.While the rate of increase is signficant, only a small fraction of the country’s 4,00 schools are affected. It has not necessarily been established that the outbreaks the infection occurred as a result of in-school transmission
Public health teams conducted mass testing in 183 schools last week, up 70pc on 108 the week before, according to the latest data published by the HSE .
It comes as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe today vowed that secondary schools will return after the Easter break.He told Today with Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1: “They will return. I am very much aware of the impact on the wellbeing of our young girls and young boys, on their families and what that means in particular for the ability of our young students to get back to some kind of normal life and how important that is to their health as well.“
NURSING HOME OUTBREAKS DOWN
The total number of outbreaks recorded during that period was 404, up by 65 compared to the week previous.
Workplace outbreaks saw a small bump, increasing by five to 19.However, outbreaks in nursing homes and hospitals reduced with just two in nursing homes recorded and four in acute hospitals.The Traveller community saw a spike in virus clusters with 42 recorded which was 82 cases in total.