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Parents should remain vigilant around symptoms as their children return to school, a senior GP in Ireland has said.<\/p>\nParents should remain vigilant around symptoms as their children return to school, a senior GP in Ireland has said.<\/p>\n
Schools are due to reopen within days.<\/p>\n
President of the Irish College of GPs Dr Mary Favier said parents should keep their youngsters isolated at home if they are experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms, or loss of taste or smell.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cParents should also remain aware of asymptomatic transmission \u2013 like some adults, children may not present symptoms but can still carry the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have vulnerable people in your limited network, ensure physical distancing is adhered to and encourage regular hand washing habits with your child.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Cillian De Gascun, director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said children can get multiple respiratory tract infections over the winter period and as a result could require repeated swab tests.<\/p>\n
Medical experts are continuing to assess alternative testing methods for children.<\/p>\n
Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, said international experience to date suggests that children do not commonly transmit Covid-19 to other children or adults in schools and most infection was passed in the home.<\/p>\n
\u201cInternationally, where schools have been reopened, schools have not been a significant driver of community transmission,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all have a role to play in keeping this virus at low levels \u2013 this is key to protecting our education system over the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n