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EDUCATION MINISTER JOE McHugh has said it is difficult to see all students being able to return to school in September if the two-metre social distancing rule remains in place.
Schools are due to reopen on a phased basis in early September, according to the Government’s road map for lifting Covid-19 restrictions.
Speaking on RTE radio’s Today with Sarah McInerney the minister said:
“With the two-metre rule still in place it’s hard to see all students being back in September.”
The minister said he will publish a road map for the reopening of schools in two weeks.
At the NPHET briefing on yesterday, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan insisted the advice on the recommended social distancing measure being two metres remained.
Health Minister Simon Harris also tweeted a reminder today that the two-metre rule remains in place.
He acknowledged in the Dáil yesterday that some businesses will be unable to adhere to the two-metre rule.
The comments come after ministers had a meeting with Holohan yesterday, where a number of them voiced their opinion that the social distancing rules should be reduced to one metre.
A number of sectors, such as pubs and restaurants, have highlighted the potential economic and societal benefits of a reduction.
However, speaking today, McHugh said:
“We’re clear on the advice that we have at the moment that it represents, we think, a reasonable interpretation of the evidence and a precautionary approach to its application.
“We think it’s the right measure for now. In relation to every piece of advice, and not just this one, we keep all this under review.”
Labour’s Alan Kelly said yesterday that the two-metre rule will have to change, stating that it is hindering the reopening of non-Covid healthcare.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also raised concerns about the rule, as well as the 5km travel distance rule stating there is no scientific evidence for it.
Speaking on RTÉ radio today, Junior Minister John Halligan said he also does not agree with the two-metre rule staying in place, stating that the WHO and the ECDC are not adamant that it needs to be two-metres.
“So why are we,” he asked.
“This is having a devastating effect on the economy. The lockdown cannot be exclusively dictated by health alone, our economy is in a seismic shift downwards, which by the way will have a health consequences when all this is over, for people who have lost their jobs and can’t get their jobs back, people can pay their debts and so on. So I think at some stage, we need to examine whether or not the perceived benefit of the lockdown outweighs the cost,” said the Independent TD.
The education minister was also asked about the Leaving Cert today.
The majority of students – 56,000 – have signed up to the Leaving Certificate calculated grades system. The deadline for students signing up is 10pm this evening.
McHugh said efforts will be made to reach out to students who have not signed up ahead of tonight’s deadline.
“I would encourage the remaining students to get going and if they are having problems they can contact the online helpline.”
The minister defended that teachers’ notes will be destroyed after grades are calculated, and would not be drawn on whether such a move would be of benefit to the students are not.
He said teachers’ unions as well as parents and students were represented in the talks that drew up the calculated grades system, he said.
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Couldn’t agree more. The impact of not seeing loved ones is going to be hugely damaging for residents. My grandmother has gone downhill since this started. She would have had a visitor nearly every day. She can’t watch tv or read a book due to mild dementia. She’s essentially looking at four walls all day every day now and has had a number of falls. I think the homes need to facilitate visits in the garden ASAP, especially given the good weather. We can refrain from touching but even for her to see her grandchild would give her so much joy.
This is not an easy one to call. But I’m siding with the author on this. Cant help thinking that insurance is playing a big part in decisions being made along with safety and already private nursing homes have a lot of questions to answer. If it were me I’d want to care for them in my own home but not everyone can manage that.
my mother is in a nursing home in the uk the home locked down in the start of march no visitors. no cases so far.
My mother who will be 93 in July is in a nursing home in Sandymount and they have been in lockdown since March. They had 1 suspected case which necessitated all residents being convined to their rooms for a 2 week period whilst awaiting results which thankfully were negative. My mother found this incredibly difficult as she suffers from depression but I feel they had no other solution. The staff bring her to the window twice a week and we have a 30 minute slot with her. One of the staff has being putting her hair colour in for her which she is delighted with. They obviously cant have their usual activities which necessitate people coming in but they are being brought out to the garden and kept at a distance from each other. We also ring a couple of times a week and the staff pass their mobile to her as she does not use a phone. I certainly feel they have handled the situation well. I appreciate the mental repercussions for some people but safety is the main concern for all. I think we will get to visit soon under strict conditions. I’m very grateful to the staff in this home for their vigilance during this pandemic.
This is a very well written article. It conveys the sentiments of so many. I think that the proposal of schdueled social distanced outdoor visits makes a lot of sense and I hope that those in authority take heed and are proactive sooner rather than later.
What a stupid article all of a sudden now we must hurry things up , as a FRONTLINE worker the last thing I want is members of the public dropping in …. People still not listening
Yes
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