The Irish National Teachers Organisation is calling for the immediate return of contact tracing in primary schools.
Automatic close contact tracing in childcare facilities and primary schools was discontinued from Monday, September 27th.
📚 INTO calling for contact tracing to be immediately reinstated at primary level.
It says the union is "extremely concerned" that no mass testing report in schools has been published in almost two weeks.
— Ben Finnegan (@_BenFinnegan) October 18, 2021
At the time, the union said it was "flabbergasted" by the decision.
The union is also calling for "an urgent review of the age restriction on the use of face coverings," which is currently set at those aged 13 and over.
In a statement this afternoon, the union which represents teachers at primary level said, "As a union, we are extremely concerned that no weekly school mass testing report has been published since the 4th of October 2021.
"The failure to produce this report at a time when positive cases among 5- to 12-year-old children has remained consistently high, has added to the level of concern and anxiety in school communities.
"Despite the fact that outbreaks have continued to occur in schools throughout October, boards of management and school leaders have been stripped of invaluable public-health support.
