No new deaths as €375m autumn school plan announced
There were no new deaths from Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland, the HSE said this evening.
The total death toll here is now 1,764 while the number of confirmed cases has now reached 25,892 after another 11 were diagnosed.
Meanwhile, the Government has announced its €375m plan to get the schools back at the end of August.
It includes hiring more than 1,000 extra post-primary teaching posts and additional special needs assistants, personal protective equipment and stepped-up cleaning regimes.
“There is no zero risk scenario but we can dramatically limit the risk of the virus through our schools,” Taoiseach Micheál Martin said.
The reopening of schools posed an “unprecedented policy and logistical challenge” for the country, he added.
Lunch breaks and school start time may be staggered, while the wearing of face coverings are not expected to be compulsory in classes.
Other measures include:
- Extra guidance counsellors and psychologists
- Extra resources for special education schools
- Older primary school pupils divided up into “pods”
- No social distancing for younger children
