The teachers' union is calling for mass testing in schools to be reintroduced.
605 school staff reported contracting Covid-19 in the first two weeks of November.
That's according to a survey by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, which's warning the primary school system's 'creaking at the seams'.
It's calling for an immediate review of public health supports in schools.
INTO General Secretary John Boyle says school communities feel abandoned:
The report also shows Westmeath has the fourth highest positivity rate in Ireland among primary school pupils.
It stands at 3.3% in the lake county, behind only Waterford, Roscommon and Leitrim.
The outlook is slightly better in Laois at 2.7% and it's 1.6% in Offaly.
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