A DERRY principal says that that panic could spread in schools here if there is a cluster of coronavirus cases among pupils or staff during flu and cold season.
Michael Allen from Lisneal College in the Watersie, a school of 900 pupils and 100 staff, says with schools set to return here in August he is yet to be convinced that the virus is under control.
On Tuesday, the Department of Health said there were six patients in hospitals in the North of Ireland with a “confirmed” diagnosis of COVID-19.
Two of those are being treated in intensive care units.
“What we have to remember here, in October and November we send lots of young people home on a daily basis, with colds, flus and fevers,” Mr Allen told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster show.
“Once we hit flu season, we will not be in a position to determine who has a cold, who has a persistent cough, and who has COVID-19.”
Michael Allen, principal of Lisneal College in the Waterside
“My worry is and it’s a genuine worry, we could be facing panic, unnecessary panic perhaps, in cold and flu season when children and adults aren’t well because we don’t know what it is,” he says.
“There would be a strong argument that if there is a cluster of young people or families associated with that young person who have contracted Coronavirus you could be looking at the school closing down,” he said.
Mr Allen added: “These are the types of things we need some guidance on as we go forward.”
