NPHET claim to be 'hopeful' that schools will reopen after Christmas
A leading member of the National Public Health Emergency Team has said he is "hopeful" that schools can reopen after the Christmas break.
The Director of UCD's National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr. Cillian De Gascun was asked if he expected schools to reopen after Christmas if there is still the same level of infections in January.
He responded: "I'd certainly be hopeful. If we're in a similar situation, coming out of the Christmas period, and we don't have Omicron circulating widely through the community, I would certainly be hopeful."
"Schools have always been a priority for us because, you know, children have suffered really badly through the course of this pandemic."
He further said that if Omicron has a transmissibility advantage over Delta this would be a cause for significant concern.
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