COVID-19 UPDATE: Six more people contract virus in Kilkenny, sweeping changes to this year’s Leaving Cert

The number of coronavirus cases in Kilkenny has risen to 265, according to the latest county-by-county breakdown of Covid-19 figures.

The latest figures reveal six more people locally have contracted the virus since Monday.

Meanwhile, sweeping changes to this year’s Leaving Cert set to be announced today will give students the option of sittting the exams at a later date.

However, most of the country’s 61,000 students are expected opt for predictive grades, which would be based on their performance in school.

Students who want to sit the traditional exams, and they will be legally entitled to do so, will be facilitated.

A student survey conducted last weekend showed 79pc of sixth years support the option of predictive grades, suggesting a significant majority would take this route.

But exams will be held for anyone who want to sit them. If, as expected, the number of candidates were significantly lower, it would also make holding the exams more managable in light of public health restrictions such as social distancing.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday acknowledged in the Dáil that uncertainty over the Leaving Cert was causing “enormous stress”.

He said he wanted to bring conclusion to the issue this week, suggesting an announcement will be made after today’s Cabinet meeting.