Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the instructions she has given to schools on the way they must respond to Covid-19 cases including on isolation of close contacts of symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. [45680/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Covid-19 Response Plans have issued directly to schools for the new school year. These plans are based on the Government’s Work Safely Protocol which reflects the most up to date public health advice for the workplace. They set out the range of measures required to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and provide clear and helpful guidance for the safe operation of school through prevention, early detection and control of Covid-19. These plans are living documents and will be updated as public health guidance is updated. The infection prevention and control measures in place in schools have worked very effectively to prevent and control Covid-19 in schools and remain in place for this school year.

In line with recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, from 27th September, which was accepted by the Minister for Health, automatic contact tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children aged over 3 months and less than 13 years, in schools will no longer take place. Children who are deemed to be close contacts outside of a household setting will not be routinely required to restrict their movements and be tested.

Any pupil/student who has symptoms which could be consistent with Covid-19 should not attend school. This will help to keep covid-19 out of schools in the first place.

The Department will continue to work with the HSE public health to support schools dealing with Covid-19.