The Department of Health have announced a further five deaths from the Coronavirus and 46 new cases.
The 46 new cases is considerably the largest number confirmed in a single day in the month of June but department said that 22 of these cases were confirmed after samples were taken on Monday and Tuesday this week.
It added that they would normally have been reported on Thursday and Friday, but are being reported today for technical reasons as part of normal practice at the National Virus Reference Laboratory.
Meanwhile, a Department of Education planning document for reopening schools gives an outline of how schools might operate when they remain open.
However, it makes clear that social distancing of even one metre – instead of the current recommended two – will limit children’s attendance at school.
It argues for a different approach to distancing in schools than in the rest of society through the creation of “class bubbles” where no social distancing would be required.
Under this “optimum” scenario, class bubbles would not mix with others and physical distancing requirements would only apply in other parts of the school such as the school yard, or between staff.
There would also be staggered drop-off/pick-up times, increased hand washing/sanitising and enhanced cleaning regimes.
In addition, there would be “if unwell stay at home” regimes, along with contact-tracing regimes that can be applied in schools if a coronavirus outbreak occurs.
Immediate identification and isolation procedures would also need to be developed for schools.
It says similar regimes apply in Belgium and New Zealand, while it points to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance which questions whether the physical distance between students can be maintained throughout the school day, given normal student behaviour.
It also cites data which suggests children are less often reported as cases than adults, and that the infection generally causes mild disease.
However, it acknowledges WHO guidance also states that the role of children in transmission remains unclear and additional data is needed.
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