As more and more students in Ireland are being subjected to self-isolation as a result of being a close contact, health officials are looking at options to reduce the total of school days missed.
The number of pupils currently restricting their movements has increased to around 14,000 according to the HSE, as school staff voice their worries around the growing figures.
Since the reopening of schools, Ireland’s testing facilities are being put under major strain as the number of close contacts continues to increase, and so a new plan of action is in the works.
According to a report by the Irish Times, the changes being considered by health officials could mean students will no longer have to self-isolate if they show no symptoms of Covid-19 - even if they're unvaccinated.
Among the other potential adjustments to rules is allowing people back to school earlier in the isolation period by testing them sooner than the ten-day mark, however, is understood that the longer period of quarantine will likely remain in place in situations of higher risk, such as in special education.
The current requirements state that pupils must self-isolate from the day they are identified, and must have a negative test before returning to in-person learning.
At the moment, this test can only be carried out on day ten of isolation, but with the stark number of students already at home from being in contact with a positive case, officials are looking to move fast to change the process.
The ten-day rule has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic - when the vast majority hadn't received a vaccine - and is likely to be changed should NPHET back the idea.
The earliest point that this could be discussed is next week when NPHET is due to meet.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said on Tuesday that “if they were to advise me and advise the government on shortening, then that’s something we can look at.”
