The Taoiseach has said that protective measures will remain in place in primary and secondary schools. In a televised address this evening, Micheál Martin said that "vaccination is key" and he appealed to parents to engage with their GP and to "tease out any concerns" parents may have about getting their child vaccinated.
He also said that the advice for those with symptoms, positive cases and close contacts remains in place but "these will be reviewed before the end of February, by which time all children aged between 5 and 11 will have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated".