new Antigen testing arrangements for close contacts in primary schools

.Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD have today confirmed arrangements for a new system of antigen testing of asymptomatic close contacts in primary schools put in place by the HSE.
Click on the image to read the entire Press Statement.

We appreciate the continuing co-operation of our school community as we do our best to keep the best protocols in place. 
Please continue to contact the school with any further queries. ​
Phone: 0909642634
Email: [email protected]

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How the programme will work:

​ If a child develops symptoms of COVID-19:

• If at any stage a child becomes symptomatic they should isolate at home and organise a COVID-19 PCR test if indicated. A 'not–detected' antigen test holds no 

• When a parent receives a ‘detected’/positive PCR COVID-19 test result on their child, they should notify the school principal immediately.
• The school principal will inform the parents of the children in the case’s pod that they are close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case. The name of the case or any other details will not be shared.
• The school principal will identify the children in the case’s pod, and inform their parents, offering the opportunity to order antigen tests from the distribution company.
• The antigen tests will be posted to the parents of the children in the pod.
• Parents carry out the antigen test on the day that they receive it and every second day until three tests have been done.
• The children in the pod can continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic and their antigen test results remain not detected.

if a child’s antigen test indicates a positive result:

• If an antigen test is positive, the child isolates at home and the child’s parent/guardian logs onto the HSE to request a PCR test.
• The antigen test distribution company will record the numbers of antigen tests distributed, batch numbers and the names of the relevant schools.

If a child develops symptoms of COVID-19:

• If at any stage a child becomes symptomatic they should isolate at home and organise a COVID-19 PCR test if indicated. A 'not–detected' antigen test holds no value in this situation of a symptomatic child.

If two or more cases arise in a class, outside a single pod:

• In a case where two or more cases arise in a class, within a seven-day period, outside of a single pod, antigen testing will be offered to the full class.
• It is not mandatory for children to participate in antigen testing. Children who are in a pod where a child has tested positive for COVID-19 can continue to attend school, whether they participate in antigen testing or not, provided that they are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
  

The principal can be contacted by email: [email protected]
or by phone: 0909642634

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Symptoms of Covid-19

Symptoms of COVID-19If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus), self-isolate (stay in your room) and get a COVID-19 test.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) - including having chills
• dry cough
• fatigue (tiredness)

Less common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this could mean they're completely gone or just different to normal
• nasal congestion (runny or blocked nose)
• conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes)
• sore throat
• headache
• muscle or joint pain (aches and pains)
• different types of skin rash
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhoea
• chills or dizziness

Symptoms of severe COVID‐19 disease include:

• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
• loss of appetite
• confusion
• pain or pressure in the chest
• fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)

You may not have all of these symptoms or your symptoms may be mild. Symptoms may vary for different age groups or variants of the virus.
It can take up to 14 days after you are infected for symptoms to show. You can spread COVID-19 during this time.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to symptoms of cold, flu or hay fever.
If you are in doubt about any symptoms your child  has, phone your GP.