Key updates for members – DE/NPHET weekly meeting

13th November 2020

The INTO Central Executive Committee today noted the latest outcome of engagement with the public health authorities and the Department of Education. Latest developments as detailed below relate to issues including:

Awareness campaign
High risk teachers
Ventilation
Data

We will seek to keep members informed of any developments as and when we become aware of them.

Public Awareness Campaign

INTO was briefed that the Department of Education campaign to raise public awareness with parents is moving ahead, with the production and dissemination of an informational video (click here to view).

The HSE has also produced videos for principals and teachers which are linked below under question 5.

INTO will be sharing these materials with members as they become available.

School support

INTO was notified that the number of principals seeking support from the public health authorities has dropped from fifty per day to thirty per day and even less at weekends. NPHET also shared data they are collecting which will enable the INTO to explore queries from schools in a more granular level and to identify trends which may warrant additional support.

Latest public health data

Following public health risk assessments 110 individuals aged over eighteen in schools have tested positive for Covid-19, with fewer than five cases so far this month.

There appears to be growing concern over the number of close contacts among staff in certain schools and the Department of Education and NPHET will amplify guidance for school staff.

High risk teachers

As noted in previous reports, INTO again raised the issue of high risk and vulnerable teachers. Public health officials confirmed that they will be keeping these cases under regular review. A small number of immuno-compromised teachers who were previously categorised as high risk have been advised to work remotely since mid-term break.

Ventilation

INTO again raised concerns with respect to ventilation in schools as we head into winter. The Department of Education building and planning unit will shortly produce revised recommendations on ventilation in schools. INTO will share these new recommendations with members as soon as they become available. INTO will also be demanding that any additional funding required for primary and special schools towards proper ventilation of their buildings be made available to schools immediately.

Public Health Webinar For Principal Teachers

The Department of Education and Department of Health will be hosting a webinar for school principals in the coming weeks.

INTO will continue to meet members of NPHET in the coming weeks and the Department of Education will also be meeting primary education stakeholders on a regular basis.

Questions

INTO put several questions to officials from the Department of Education and NPHET and the following are the questions and answers provided:

Will teacher unions be provided with the 'mid-term review of schools' when it is complete?

Yes, at the earliest opportunity when it has been signed off within the HSE.

Can Dr. Collins confirm that by Thursday October 29 in 12.5% of the facilities where public health risk assessments (PHRAs) were conducted, there was some level of intra-school transmission and if there is a breakdown of the data showing whether the transmission was between staff, students or staff-students?

Where intraschool transmission were deemed plausible, it involved 194 staff and students; 24 of whom were clearly designated as staff, 0.02% of all staff and students attending educational facilities nationally. Where any plausible or likely transmission did occur within the facility, approximately 3 other cases were identified. Further breakdown are not available.

Can we get a weekly breakdown of the number of positive cases in schools aged over 18 by school sector - primary v post-primary and of the total number how many were primary teachers?

A weekly report will be provided – it is not possible to breakdown by school staff role.

When will the next review of the wearing of face-coverings in educational settings be completed by HPSC?

When/if new evidence appears.

When will the information for parents uploaded to HSE website on Nov 3 relating to 'If your child is a close contact' be disseminated to schools and to stakeholders and communicated directly to parents?

Circulation channels as per below.

Video title	Link to video	Circulation channels
Parent’s Guide: if your child is a close contact of COVID-19 in school	https://youtu.be/x2Vur9Dx4dk	HSE.ie/cvdsch My child.ie & social media Press
Advice for school staff who are a close contact of COVID-19	https://youtu.be/Asog2A6I-uA	DOE Press
Advice for school principals on the steps they can take if notified of a positive case	https://youtu.be/F7t9ZB61-a8	DOE/Press

Should the Department of Education amplify the message given by Dr Collins that there should be no congregation of parents outside school facilities during level 5 of the government's framework?

Schools need to take regular opportunities of engagement with parents to communicate this message to their parents also. The Department of Education will examine ways to promote this message further also.

Will principal teachers be expected to contact the parents of a full class, when a full class is deemed to be close contacts and if so, will electronic communication suffice?

This will be discussed on a case-by-case basis with the principal.

Will the Department seek medical evidence from public health to reassure teachers who are pregnant and teachers in the high-risk health category that it is safe for them to attend their schools for work?

This is an occupational health issue, not a specific public health issue. The guidance for high-risk staff and pregnant staff is in line with current HSE advice.