Testing for Covid-19 has taken place in 159 schools so far this this month, involving a total of 4,786 students and staff, all deemed close contacts of confirmed cases.
Data received by RTÉ News from the Health Service Executive shows that the overall positivity rate for schools has remained low for this period, at 2.5%, with the virus detected in 118 students and staff.
This compares to a 10% positivity rate for close contacts within the wider community. A low positivity rate in a setting indicates low general levels of transmission of the virus.
Despite calls for wider testing in schools health authorities continue to test those they deem to be close contacts of a confirmed case.