A primary school was yesterday forced to close its doors just days after reopening after staff members were identified as “close contacts” of a Covid-19 patient.
A text sent to parents of children attending Meelick National School in Co Clare, seen by the Irish Mirror, revealed that it could not remain open without any permanent member of staff.
The school said: “We have been advised by the HSE that a number of staff members have been identified as close contacts of a case of Covid 19.
“On that basis they have to be excluded from school. It is not possible for the school to remain open without any permanent member of staff so unfortunately the school will have to close immediately.
“We regret the closure of the school but we are obliged to follow the HSE guidelines”.
Parents were contacted yesterday afternoon and the school intends to shut for a week and will reopen on September 9 unless advised otherwise.
More than 100 children attend the school which is located in a small village close to the Limerick border.
A local TD confirmed they had spoken to a local parent who received the text message.
A former teacher at the school said: “It is very ably run by the principal and staff and I have full confidence they have done the right thing in accordance with public health guidelines.”
“This is unfortunate for the teachers and the pupils, but I would say this will become a common feature in schools across the country as we live with Covid-19, and I would expect there would be a rolling series of class closures and school closure around the country,” they added.
Meanwhile, a second Dublin primary school has been forced to send a class home following confirmation of a positive Covid-19 test.
Lucan Community National School informed parents by email on Tuesday that there was a confirmed case and a Public Health Risk Assessment had taken place following on from advice by the Medical Health Officer.
It is the second national school in the capital that has been forced to send a class home because of the killer virus.
Holy Family National School in Rathcoole confirmed to the Irish Mirror that they had been affected by the first case of Covid-19 in Irish classrooms since reopening last week.
