They come into effect on or before November 29th.
The arrangements for antigen testing of asymptomatic close contacts in primary schools to be introduced in the coming days have been confirmed by Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD.
Antigen tests will be made available to the children in a primary school pod, where a child in the pod has had a PCR test that detected COVID-19.
Where two or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 occur in a class, within a seven day period, outside of a single pod, antigen testing will be offered to the full class.
The tests will be sent to the children’s parents by the HSE.
Parents/Guardians of a primary school child, who has been confirmed as having COVID-19 following a PCR test, are asked to inform their school’s principal.
The school principal will then inform the parents of other children in the pod of a confirmed case.
No personal details of the child will be shared.
These parents will be provided with the option to receive free antigen tests for their child, which they will be able to order for delivery to their home.
It is not mandatory for children to participate in antigen testing.
Children who are in a pod where a child has tested positive for COVID-19 can continue to attend school, whether they participate in antigen testing or not, provided that they are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
If a child displays any symptoms of COVID-19 they should self-isolate immediately and a parent or guardian should arrange a PCR test.
School principals will not be required to gather evidence of participation or of antigen test results.
Information materials for parents will be shared with schools and publicised directly to parents early next week.
The HSE will immediately commence preparation for this programme to be made available.
The programme will commence on or before 29 November.
.
Midlands Schools Head To US for VEX World Robotics Championships
Talk On Communication Skills For Children And Teenagers In Laois Next Week
Offaly Singer Marks 50 Years In Music This May
Westmeath Actor's Bilingual Comedy Comes To Midlands
HSE Regrets Laois Family Had Negative Experience With Ambulance Service
Number Of Workers Over 65 Rises By 30% Since 2022
Homelessness Figures Climb Nationwide Despite Slight Midlands Dip
Over 1,200 Homes In Pipeline Across Midlands
Midlands Housing Market Surges As Prices Jump Over 13% In A Year
Elva Kelly Named New Councillor In Laois County Council
US Troops Numbers On The Rise At Shannon Airport
World Tai Chi And Qi Gong Day Event In Westmeath Tomorrow
Gardaí Make Arrests Over Drone Flying Close To Midlands Prisons
Almost €100K Going To Midlands Community Water Development
Laois Community Raises Thousands To Challenge Proposed IPAS Centres
New Appeal Date Set For Josef Puska In Ashling Murphy Murder Conviction
Enterprise Minister Says Energy Parks Will Make Midlands Production Leader
Electric Picnic Secures Top Honours At IMRO Live Music Awards
Midlands Set To Outshine The Canaries With Warmer Weather Ahead
High Court Denies Enoch Burke Application To Stop Disciplinary Panel