Teachers warn of silent spreading of virus in classrooms as restrictions ease

Call comes as Nphet gives green light to next wave of reopenings

INTO general secretary John Boyle. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Eilish O’Regan and Katherine Donnelly

Teachers last night warned of the danger of Covid-19 silently spreading in schools if decisions are taken too soon to ease restrictions requiring children who are close contacts of a confirmed case to stay at home.

It follows a recommendation by the usually cautious National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to radically water down the need for testing and keeping children out of school for at least 10 days when close contacts of a confirmed case – even when they have no symptoms themselves.