The head of the HSE says the rules around close contacts in schools are changing based on the balance of risk.
From today, children under 12 don’t have to restrict their movements if they’re a close contact of someone with Covid in school, but have no symptoms.
Paul Reid says the evidence shows the infection rate in school settings is relatively low.
"Firstly the transmission levels are much lower in the schools is much lower than in the community.
"Equally the numbers of infected children within the school settings are relatively low.
"That's the kind of evidence that we are seeing, we've been monitoring since the schools have returned.
"That's what we have to weigh up on the balance of risks."
