The school connected to Ireland’s first coronavirus case has been closed down for two weeks over fears the disease could spread.
More than 400 students and 30 teachers at the North Dublin school face a fortnight of worry to see if they develop Covid-19.
All will be monitored daily during the 14 day virus incubation period.
The entire school has been identified as close contacts of Ireland’s first victim of the contagion – a male connected to the school.
The Department of Health at a press briefing last night would not say if anyone else had developed symptoms.
The male was confirmed positive on Saturday night. He is currently being treated at a Dublin hospital.
Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan said: “Contact tracing has assessed that close contacts of this patient includes pupils and teachers of a secondary school.
"Public health doctors are in direct contact with pupils, their parents and the staff involved.’’
Last night parents at the school received a bombshell communique via text message from school authorities.
It said it would close for the duration of the incubation period.
Pupils and teachers will follow a restricted movement protocol – self-isolation.
Dr Holohan said: “Public health doctors will actively follow-up with all students and teachers on a daily basis over the coming 14 days.”
A team of public doctors spent yesterday tracing all close contacts of the Republic’s first victim.
The news the range of contacts has run into the hundreds is the worst possible outcome for the containment effort.
Even before it emerged a school was now central in the fight to contain the virus, there were concerns of school closures nationally in the event of a bigger outbreak.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health Dr Ronan Glynn said: “It is possible. We will monitor developments. If these measures need to be taken they will be taken.
“But again I reiterate that, at the moment, we’re in containment phase.”
Coronavirus has infected 87,000 people and claimed 3,000 lives.
The teenager who is the Republic’s first case was interviewed and provided a list of named contacts.
That would have included family members, close friends, in and out of school, and health care providers he met since his return from Northern Italy.
Other casual contacts who have been in general proximity will also be traced.
They will be given information and advised on the best actions if they start to show symptoms.
Dr Glynn said: “People should not panic. The risk of contracting coronavirus for individuals in Ireland remains low.” But he encouraged anyone who experiences symptoms to come forward.
He said: “The key tool of containment is co-operation. People should know that if they have symptoms they should put their hand up and come forward so we can help them.”
Even before last night’s dramatic escalation, the St Patrick’s Day festival was under real threat with a decision due later this week
The Dublin parade, which attracts 500,000 including thousands of foreign visitors, is undergoing an independent risk assessment.
Tourism Ireland chief Niall Gibbons said he would meet with ministers when the assessment was complete.
He confirmed Tourism Ireland has already postponed some of its European publicity campaigns about St Patrick’s Day because of Covid-19.Cheltenham, the blue riband event of National Hunt racing, is also threatened as well as Ireland’s final Six Nations rugby match against France in Paris on March 14.
As the number of global deaths passed 3,000, 12 more patients in England and one in Scotland tested positive for COVID-19, taking the UK total to 36.
The number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to almost 1,700, and the death toll there increased by five to 34.
The Czech Republic confirmed its first three cases, all linked to travel to Italy. Australia suffered its first coronavirus death from its 25 confirmed cases, a man aged 78 who had been on a cruise.
Here the main concern remains containment after two confirmed cases on the island.
It is still unknown how long the teenager was back in Ireland before he showed symptoms.
He was tested in a hospital for the virus with the positive result confirmed late Saturday evening.Detecting close contacts is vital, Dr Glynn said. The patient is now being treated in isolation. Strict protocols are in place to control infection spread within the hospital.
Yesterday, the HSE said: “The risk to the general public is still low. This risk may change. People may continue to go to work, school, as usual.”
On Saturday, Government ministers on both sides of the border held talks on how to co-ordinate their response to the coronavirus spread.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris held a conference call with Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Health Minister Robin Swann.
Mr Swann said: “We will continue to cooperate on contact tracing and other vital steps as we work relentlessly to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.”
