School given all clear to reopen after virus scare
Athboy's O'Growney National School has been given the all clear to reopen tomorrow following concerns over the spread of a 'communicable disease'.
Earlier today the Parents Association had posted that the school was closed as a precaution and was waiting for "further instructions from The HSE."
The school has since posted on its website a letter from the HSE which said it was alerted today of the closure of the school, without its involvement, "due to concerns of a communicable disease".
"The Health Protection Team has undertaken a risk assessment around the circumstances that prompted this closure, and have determined that there is no evidence for closing the facility on Public Health grounds," the letter states.
The Department of Education has said no school has been closed as part of the ongoing contact tracing process regarding the second confirmed case of Covid19 (Coronavirus).
"The Department of Education and Skills has been in contact with one school which closed to pupils today. This school will re-open tomorrow," according to a statement from the Department.
"It is essential that any decisions regarding school closures in relation to Covid-19 are proportionate, necessary and based on specific public health advice. No other response is appropriate.
"The Departments of Health and Education are in constant communication regarding Ireland's responsiveness to Covid19," the statement concluded.
Another school in the county wrote to parents today, noting that "a primary school in Meath has closed as a precaution, around coronavirus, today."
That school was clear that they were unaware of any possible infections in their school which will remain open unless the HSE directs otherwise stated.
Meanwhile, there have now been two confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country. The HSE confirmed last night, that a female patient from the east of the country is the latest patient to be identified as having the virus.
Reporting by sister newspaper, The Meath Chronicle