Coronavirus: Union presses for school infection rates

Most schools across Northern Ireland have restarted by now, however testing of pupils and teachers is taking place where they display potential symptoms or where they have been in contact with someone who has been infected.

Gerry Murphy, Northern Secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, says he is pressing the Department of Education (DE) to be transparent about infection rates.

“INTO has requested the results of the department’s survey [of schools] carried out last week and expected to continue on a weekly basis to the end of September concerning the number of Covid related absences in schools,” he said.

“To date we have not received any information from DE despite our request. We at INTO are concerned that an accurate picture of the impact of Covid-19 on teacher attendance cannot in fact be accurately captured at present and that DE’s figures will be at best indicative.

“Teachers will be forced like other parents to take days off as their own children get the normal cold and flu or cases of Covid are reported in their children’s schools. Taking the carers’ leave available to them is not really an option as it is very limited and is unpaid. Given that a teacher could find themselves in this position a number of times over the winter this is something that needs addressing now. INTO has written to DE seeking to have this issue addressed as a priority.”

The News Letter asked the Department of Health (DoH) and the Public Health Agency (PHA) if they would publish school infection rates, as is done for care homes. However it is understood the DoH has no plans to as schools are not part of the health system.

The PHA says that publishing the number of school outbreaks could identify individuals and “create stigma”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “The Department is working with the Education Authority to examine and record existing data sources relating to Covid-19 including information on teacher attendance. We are also considering how best to publish this information in an accurate and timely way.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor