HSE UPDATE FOR SCHOOLS

Dear parents/guardians, members of the school communityPlease note the following changes and important updates
 In line with recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, it has
been agreed that from September 27th 2021, automatic contact tracing of asymptomatic (with no symtoms)
close contacts in children aged over 3 months and less than 13 years in  primary education and social and sporting groups is no longer recommended.This means that children aged between 3 months and 13 years who are identified as aclose contact in  education settings, social and sporting groups, or other non-household settings and who are asymptomatic will no longer be routinely required to restrict their movements.
           Automatic COVID 19 testing of asymptomatic close contacts identified in education settings, social and sporting groups will no longer take place; instead testing will focus on clinically relevant symptomatic disease. 
 Cases and outbreaks in special educational needs settings (our ASD class) will still have a public health risk assessment, which may still require children to be identified as close contacts, be referred for testing and have their movements restricted. However they will generally be requested only to restrict their movements for five days, and be referred for one COVID 19 test.
 Children aged between 3 months and 13 years who are identified, as household close contacts and are not fully vaccinated or have had a confirmed Covid-19 diagnoses in the last 9 months (even if they have no symptoms) will still need to restrict their movements and get a COVID 19 test. A child is a household contact if they were present over-night, in the household of a COVID 19 case while the case was infectious. This may be in their own home or someone else’s home for example children who may have been on sleepovers with family or friends.
Public Health advice remains the same for any child between 3 months and 13 years of age with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 - they should immediately self-isolate, should not attend childcare or school or socialise and follow current public health advice. A child who was previously identified as a close contact of a case of COVID 19 (other than a household close contact) and who does not have symptoms, will not be routinely recommended or required to restrict their movements and be tested from the  school.  Close observation of children for symptoms which are consistent with COVID 19 are recommended at all times.
           At school all infection prevention and control measures, including pods and other mitigation measures
remain in place. Any child who was previously identified as a close contact of a case from outside of the
house provided that they have no symptoms of Covid-19 from Monday 27th September. They do not need to present for COVID 19 testing before returning. Children identified as close contacts within the ASD  class  should remain restricting their movement.

Best wishes 

Elaine