Some parents and principals are terrified about the changes to close contact rules for under 12s, according to the INTO.
From next Monday, primary school children and those in creches won’t have to restrict their movements, if they’re close contacts and have no symptoms.
The HSE is defending the decision saying the majority of schoolchildren who are deemed close contacts, don’t have C
ovid.
But General Secretary of the INTO, John Boyle says the plan is risky:
"Of course we'd be worried, particularly for the children, but also for some staff, and nobody wants to see staff being off sick or COVID-19. There's a difficulty getting substitute teachers, and there's the question about long COVID thereafter, and nobody wants to see loads of children's classes being closed, or schools being closed."
