Dr Holohan said the core priority must be protecting the overall health and wellbeing of children.
“Given the staffing challenges already evident across the health and social care sector, it will also be important that measures are taken to limit the impact of a closure of schools on health care workers and other essential workers,” he said.
“Specific measures should also be taken to ensure that more vulnerable children can best be supported over the coming weeks”.
Schools will remain closed until the end of January at least, except for Leaving Cert students, who will attend three days a week.
WATCH: Dr Tony Holohan pays tribute to BT Young Scientist participants
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has praised the participants of this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technologist Exhibition (BTYSTE) and reflected on the importance of scientific research in fighting COVID-19.
Speaking in a pre-recorded video message, Dr Holohan said taking part in Young Scientist despite the pandemic was an ‘amazing achievement’ for 1,000 or so second level students entered in this year’s virtual competition.
Dr Holohan went onto say that ‘we knew nothing of this pandemic 12 months ago’ but that science and research have ‘helped us to get to a point of understanding’.
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Sample shows one in four Covid-19 cases in Ireland last week were UK variant, Holohan told government
The CMO wrote to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on Tuesday regarding the current Covid-19 situation. By Hayley Halpin Thursday 7 Jan 2021, 12:18 PM Jan 7th 2021, 12:18 PM 29,133 Views 48 Comments
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan
Image: Sasko Lazarov via RollingNews.ie
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan
Image: Sasko Lazarov via RollingNews.ie
ONE IN FOUR positive Covid-19 cases in Ireland last week were that of the UK variant, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said in a letter to government on Tuesday.
The letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly was sent a day before Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday announced a raft of tighter Covid-19 restrictions, including the closure of schools for the re
BREAKING: More than 300 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Limerick for second day in a row
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THE 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in Limerick has increased further after more than 300 additional confirmed cases of the disease were reported for the second day in a row.
The Department of Health says it has been notified of an additional 345 cases of the disease meaning the incidence rate now stands at 1252.4 (per 100,000 population).
This is the third highest rate in the country and is more than 40% above the overall rate for Ireland.
Nationally, a further 17 Covid-19 related deaths and a record 7,836 new cases have been notified to the Health Protections Surveillance Centre.