Fianna Fail junior Minister Anne Rabbitte wants a review of the 17-day isolation rule for close contacts of Covid positive children aged under 13.
Current guidelines state that in circumstances where it is not possible for a family member to be isolated from the Covid positive child, the person has to restrict their movements for 17 days if they have not received their booster vaccine.
An isolation period of 10 days applies to children aged under 13 but those caring for them are required to isolate for an extra seven days.
Minister of State Anne Rabbitte has said she has been contacted by numerous parents who have been “hamstrung” by the rule.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, she said: “The 17 rule is crucifying parents of children aged under 13.
“I’m aware of cases where parents are out of work but their children, who have now recovered from Covid are back to school but their parents have to stay at home.
“There’s no way you can isolate a child under the age of 13.
“Families have been in contact with me and are shocked and dismayed over the rule.
“In some cases I’m aware that children were sent home from school because of the interpretation of the 17 day rule.
“It’s a financially difficult time of the year for parents and this is incredibly tough on families who can’t return to work after 10 days of isolation but instead have to stay on an extra seven days.
“It seriously needs to be reviewed and no one seems to be talking about it.”
The Galway East TD has asked for scientific evidence on the need to keep fully vaccinated people at home for 17 days.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said: “If the parent close contact has not received their booster and cannot isolate from the child they will need to restrict movements for 17 days.
“The reason is that the parent might be incubating the virus past the 10 days that the child is isolating.
“So despite being asymptomatic, there may be virus [Covid-19] replicating in the parent.
“The additional seven days is a safety margin for that.”
The HSE spokeswoman said this 17 day rule only applies to those from whom the case can’t be isolated.
She added: “Some members of the household might be able to be kept sufficiently separate.
“Secondly, people who have the booster need only restrict movements for 5 days (then another 5 days if there is an additional case).
“No more than 10 days if you have had the booster.”
