Créche to remain closed until next Monday

The Meath créche at the centre of five Covid-19 cases is to remain closed until next Monday.

The Daoine Oga Community Childcare Centre in Navan was due to open today (Tuesday), but management decided to remain closed as not all of the children had been tested.

The delay in testing has been described as "concerning" by a top immunologist.

However, all the latest test results that have since been returned have proved negative.

The créche was temporarily closed last week after three children and two staff members tested positive for the Coronavirus.

The three children who are siblings were asymptomatic while the two adults who tested positive showed very mild symptoms.

CEO of the créche, Marie Daly, confirmed that they had taken the decision to remain closed until next Monday, as testing had not been complete.

Delays in testing has caused concern over the past week with Professor Paul Moynagh of Maynooth University saying; "It is very concerning if direct contacts of confirmed cases are not being immediately contacted and tested as part of the test and trace system operated by the HSE," he said.

However, to date, with most of the testing complete, no new cases of the virus have been reported.

Ms Daly said the créche has always followed all guidelines and advice given from all the relevant bodies since the first staff member tested positive.

“We have always kept staff and parents up to date with the situation."

Meanwhile, Slane Garda station was undergoing deep cleaning yesterday, following the news that two Gardai have tested positive for COVID-19.

A Garda statement said the cleaning had taken place to ensure the station's safe reopening today (Tuesday).

The statement said the Gardai do not comment on individual members, but it is believed neither Garda is seriously ill, although one was displaying symptoms.

Meanwhile an adult member of Simonstown Gaels has tested positive for the virus.

The club suspended all GAA activities for 48 hours as a result.