Sir, – Rein in behaviour a bit – An Taoiseach; Consider pre-emptive school closures – An Tánaiste; Limit children’s external activities – deputy chief medical officer; Resume testing of close contacts in schools – primary-school teachers’ union.
All, however, are ignoring the underlying reasons for this fourth wave of Covid infection. Government policy is failing to prevent Covid-19 getting into homes, and from there into schools. Most cases are in young adults, with the steepest rise in 5-12 year-old children.
The cessation of contact tracing in schools means that the true rate-rise in children is probably faster.
Face-coverings, which most young children tolerate well, reduce the transmission of Covid-19 and other airborne infections. Thereby, they reduce the need for testing, be it a PCR or rapid antigen test (both are problematic) and children can stay in school.
Face-coverings should be consistently used by everyone when sharing indoor public spaces. Effective prevention can give parents, especially of unvaccinated 5-12 year-olds, more hope of surviving the next six months. – Yours, etc,
RUAIRÍ BRUGHA,
Emeritus Professor, RCSI,
Dublin 2.