Contact tracing in schools
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has called for the resumption of contact tracing in primary schools amid the ongoing surge in Covid infections.
The president of the INTO, Joe McKeown, told Newstalk radio that the rise in Covid infections in the community requires the intervention of public health authorities.
The union has also called for a pilot antigen testing scheme to begin without delay in primary schools. Mr McKeown said antigen testing may have a role in improving the attendance of children in school.
School holiday extensions ruled out
The Tánaiste has ruled out an extension to the mid-term break or Christmas break to tackle the number of Covid cases in young children, but a further lockdown cannot be completely ruled out.
It comes as deputy chief medical officer Ronan Glynn said children of primary school age were now the most likely to become infected, based on current trends.
Mr Varadkar was speaking against a backdrop of continued high daily numbers of new Covid-19 cases.
A further 2,605 Covid cases were confirmed in the Republic on Thursday. The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 stands at 481, with 99 in intensive care.
Antrim crash
Former Ireland rugby international David Tweed has died in a road crash in Co Antrim.
Mr Tweed died at the scene on Whitepark Road close to Dunseverick on Thursday.
The former Ulster rugby star and member of the Orange Order was riding a motorbike when he was involved in a collision at around 4.30pm.
Stop the count
Ireland should stop counting Covid infections as case numbers may not be that relevant at this point, according to Professor Luke O’Neill.
The immunologist from Trinity College Dublin said that those who refuse to be vaccinated against the disease are “foolish”.
“It is hospitalisations and ICU numbers you need to look at now. You would be foolish not to take a vaccine,” he told the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk. “It was never a case that we wouldn't beat Covid because I knew we would. Even the Black Death went away.”
