Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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705. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have been notified by the HSE that they have had a case of Covid-19 since schools returned in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32333/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’

This guidance provides that the HSE Department of Public Health will liaise directly with schools regarding any actions to be taken following a Public Health Risk Assessment. In practice, this involves the HSE Department of Public Health liaising directly with the designated contact, usually the school principal of the public health instructions

As of 29 October a total of 611 education facilities (primary, post primary and special education facilities) have undergone mass testing following Public Health Risk Assessment.

The positivity rate of close contacts testing in educational facilities including primary, post-primary and special educational needs facilities as of 29/10/20 is 2.6% with 15,774 close contacts tested. In comparison the positivity of testing for close contacts in the community, is approximately 10%.