“If you’re going to keep schools open that’s fair enough, but at least be honest with us about your decisions,” Olive O’Connor, an independent healthcare advocate and author of the analysis, said. Schools are currently noted as the fifth-highest settings for instances of the virus since data began recording in March, despite having only reopened in September. Nevertheless, official Irish public health advice is that just 2% of outbreaks can be attributed to schools, where transmission is judged to be low. “The schools are open, that’s a decision and that’s fine. But there’s a need to be explicit as to what the risks and benefits of that are,” said Professor Anthony Staines, public health expert with DCU’s school of nursing and one of the report’s two reviewers.

Source: Irish Examiner November 28, 2020 10:00 UTC