Covid policy for children not working

Sir, – Rein in behaviour a bit – An Taoiseach; Consider pre-emptive school closures – An Tánaiste; Limit children’s external activities – deputy chief medical officer; Resume testing of close contacts in schools – primary-school teachers’ union.

All, however, are ignoring the underlying reasons for this fourth wave of Covid infection. Government policy is failing to prevent Covid-19 getting into homes, and from there into schools. Most cases are in young adults, with the steepest rise in 5-12 year-old children.

The cessation of contact tracing in schools means that the true rate-rise in children is probably faster.

Face-coverings, which most young children tolerate well, reduce the transmission of Covid-19 and other airborne infections. Thereby, they reduce the need for testing, be it a PCR or rapid antigen test (both are problematic) and children can stay in school.

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Face-coverings should be consistently used by everyone when sharing indoor public spaces. Effective prevention can give parents, especially of unvaccinated 5-12 year-olds, more hope of surviving the next six months. – Yours, etc,

RUAIRÍ BRUGHA,

Emeritus Professor, RCSI,

Dublin 2.