Over 10,000 cases of Covid-19 were reported in children in Ireland last week - but only 100 or so were linked to schools according to HSPC data.
Incidence of Covid-19 has been highest among children aged 5-12, with the rate far above the national average.
Around about one in every 41 children in that cohort have tested positive within the last two weeks.
As a result, there are many people who want schools to shut early for Christmas, believing classrooms to be a major transmission point.
For those worried that their kids may have caught the virus - here's the symptoms to look out for.
The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are:
- fever (high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more)
- dry cough
- fatigue (tiredness)
Less common symptoms include:
- loss or changed sense of taste or smell
- blocked nose
- conjunctivitis (red or pink eye)
- sore throat
- headache
- muscle or joint pain (aches and pains)
- skin rash
- nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- chills or dizziness
The Department of Education says there are no plans to lengthen the Christmas holidays, and schools will reopen as scheduled in January, despite Covid infection rates among children, in a statement made to the Irish Independent.
A spokesperson said: “The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic years is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and the Department for the purposes of standardising breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term.
“This is important to ensure certainty for the school community about the dates of school holidays.
“There are no plans to alter the school break at Christmas.”
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