A public health expert has warned that it is “very unlikely” that schools will reopen as planned in February.
Dr Gabriel Scally said that the “whole process” of children going to school, mixing with staff and returning home could further increase risk of transmission.
“Children are not at great risk but there is no doubt about it that there is the whole process of getting children to school, all of the teachers and staff that are there and there is transmission between children and transmission back into families again.
“Given the terrible situation we are in, I don’t think schools should be open,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.
Dr Scally suggested that schools should use this time to prepare for safe reopening.
“Try and make them safer by taking over more space,” he said. “Other buildings, community halls, sports halls, whatever, so that in future months, the classes can be more spread.
“They should be doing something really serious about ventilation. Opening windows that maybe don’t open.
“Putting in new windows that can open all of that kind of stuff. It is a good opportunity now to get the schools safer.”