School principals have revealed record low student attendances and severe staff shortages as the country reported its highest ever Covid-19 case numbers. Schools reopened yesterday after the Christmas break, with many principals reporting that 30% to 40% of children did not turn up for class. The absences are linked to the recording-breaking Omicron wave of the virus, with 23,817 cases confirmed by the Department of Health yesterday — the worst daily figure since the pandemic began. There are now 941 Covid patients in hospital, an increase of 13, and 90 in intensive care, down four. The impact of isolation is also being felt in healthcare, with 8,500 HSE staff out of work because of Covid-19.

Source: Irish Examiner January 07, 2022 07:45 UTC