20,000 signatures reached
To: Government, NPHET, Deparment of Education & Department of Health
Reclose the Schools
We want all schools in Ireland to close again due to the recent rise in Covid-19 cases. Many students and teachers have caught the virus in recent weeks. Statistics show that the number of cases in all school environments is on the rise, despite the restrictions that are currently in place.
Why is this important?
Students account for 20% of Ireland's population. Sending students to school in the current climate, while also considering that online learning was practiced successfully last year, is an unnecessary risk to public safety. Issues facing schools include confusion over the definition of a close contact, no guarantee of when a test result will be returned to a student, and no option for high-risk teachers to teach from home. An inadequate following of restrictions, including a lack of social distancing before and after school as well as at break times, masks not being used at break times and hand sanitizers being recalled because they were not safe are just some of the health concerns affecting schools. Finally, students are struggling massively with their mental health right now. The fear of contracting and possibly spreading Covid-19 to loved ones and high risk friends is leaving many students stressed and afraid to go to school.