Local principal concerned about 'illogical' changes to contact tracing guidelines

(Above) Matt Melvin, principal of St Etchen's NS, Kinnegad.

The principal of the largest primary school in Westmeath has described the upcoming changes in contact tracing protocols for children under 13 as “slightly illogical”.

From next Monday, children who are deemed close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases in childcare or school settings will no longer have to restrict their movements if they are not displaying symptoms.

Speaking on Morning Ireland earlier, Matt Melvin, principal of St Etchen's National School in Kinnegad said that his school has more confirmed cases at the moment than at any other time in the pandemic. He is concerned about the timing of the changes, he says.

“Covid is more of a reality to us than it's ever been...Our measures seem to be working. Parents, children and staff are confident of what we are doing, so it seems to me to be unexplained and slightly illogical that just when we need our safety measures most they are now being diluted. We are very concerned about that. I think that we need to be cautious about it.”

Mr Melvin added that he believed that Covid has never been more prevalent in primary schools.

“We have never been dealing with more. That's my own personal experience and it's the anecdotal experience that I am getting from others.

“...We have a class out and two pods out. They are working quite well and the parents concerned are happy and parents body in the school is happy that their children when they come into my school are healthy, happy and are educated. I want them to continue to believe that that is the case. I just think that this needs to be explained to us a little bit more so that we are convinced that it is correct and it is relevant. I think that a little more time would make all the difference in doing that,” he said.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation has also called for a deferral of the changes to contact tracing until “reliable data is available”.

Children who are a close contact of someone in their household diagnosed with Covid-19 will still have to restrict their movements.