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20th Oct 2021

Wexford primary school told to re-open immediately despite Covid fears

Kat O'Connor

Over 30 Covid cases were confirmed in the school.

The Department of Education has told CBS Primary School in Wexford to re-open.

The school stopped in-person learning after a major Covid-19 outbreak.

It is believed over 30 cases were confirmed at the school.

The closure was supported by both staff, pupils, and parents, but the school’s board of management has now been told to reverse their decision.

CBS Primary School was due to remain closed until after the Halloween midterm.

According to The Irish Independent, Principal Vicky Barron contacted parents and guardians about the re-opening last night.

She said: “Despite the ongoing concerns for the safety of our pupils, the considered decisions of the Board of Management, and after lengthy communications with the Department of Education, we have now been instructed to return to face-to-face learning with immediate effect.”

Principal Barron said the school will re-open today, October 20th.

She said the school is “delighted to welcome children back, as closing the building was a last resort for us”.

However, she stressed that children who are symptomatic, close contacts, household contacts, or awaiting Covid-19 test results should not attend school.

“Children with symptoms will be sent home, even if those of a mild illness,” she added.

35% of children were absent from the Wexford school last Friday. It has also been sending children with Covid symptoms home daily.

The news comes after a school in Wicklow reportedly closed due to a Covid outbreak.

The school has reportedly started online lessons and will return to in-person classes when it is safe to do so.

 

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INTO has called on the Government to resume Covid-19 testing, contact tracing, and risk assessment in schools. It has also called for a change to the Covid-19 measures and believes there need to be stricter protocols for close contacts.

Fully vaccinated close contacts of a positive Covid case are set to get free antigen tests sent out, the Government confirmed yesterday.