7th December 2021
Following the provision of updated HSE guidance, the Department of Education (DE) has today published a revised version of Information Note 0027/2021 originally published yesterday. The note advises of updated working and leave arrangements that will apply under specific circumstances. Some of the updates include:
- Special Leave with Pay: This remains available in circumstances where a teacher who has symptoms of Covid-19 must self-isolate or if the teacher has received a positive PCR Test result. The change here is that a teacher with symptoms does not need to be advised to self-isolate and/or be referred for a test by their GP/HSE. A teacher with symptoms is required to self-isolate and can book a PCR test, without GP assessment.
- Restricted Movement: A vaccinated teacher with no symptoms who is a household contact of a confirmed case must restrict their movements for five days from the date of HSE contact and carry out three antigen tests. A vaccinated teacher who had a positive PCR test result within the last nine months will not be required to restrict their movements or to carry out antigen tests.
- Risk Categorisation Reports: teachers whose risk categorisation reports are due to expire on 31 December, 2021 will shortly be contacted by the OHS (Medmark) to either advise them to submit a new Covid-19 Risk assessment questionnaire or to confirm that their risk categorisation has been extended.
This Information Note also contains an Appendix with a number of updated scenarios.
On foot of this note, the INTO will update its FAQ document for members in the coming days, which will be available on the INTO website as soon as possible.
A webinar for Principals will take place tomorrow afternoon (7 December) at 3:15pm. This webinar will cover:
- Antigen Testing Guidance
- Use of Face Coverings
- Updated Working and Leave Arrangements.
Registration is available by clicking here.