Dr. Kevin Kelleher:

When we are told of a case that involves either a child in school or it is clearly a member of staff at a school, the public health department immediately starts to assess with the individual or parents what is happening. If necessary, and more often than not, they get in touch with the school to review the position within the school, doing what is now called a public health risk assessment to see what is necessary as a consequence of that case.

In some circumstances, because of what has happened, nothing needs to be done as the individual has not been in the school for the period in which he or she might have been infectious. If something needs to be done, a review is done within the school of which people need to be identified and asked to restrict movements and be tested as a consequence. That assessment is done with the school based on what happened in the school in those circumstances. It often concentrates on the class that the individual was in or teaching or working with, and the consequence of working in that class. Sometimes, this involves members of non-teaching staff who have virtually no contact with children or other members of staff.

The figure of 10,000-plus comprises the people who have been identified as being at risk as a consequence of those assessments. It will carry on and we will keep doing it. We are still doing things, even in the half-term, and we will start again in full flurry, I imagine, as schools start again next week. We are doing this as effectively as possible in order to maintain schools being open so children can get their education.