Children have begun returning to school today after a neat 6-month absence.
Classes have spaced out desks, and primary school children don’t have to wear facemasks.
Their public transport system will also run as it did before the pandemic emerged in Ireland.
Meanwhile, secondary students will have to wear face masks if social distancing is not possible.
Transport for post-primary will also operate at half capacity.
New health guidance says a child can go to class if they’ve sniffles and the odd sneezing.
However, they should stay away if they have a temperature, a cough, shortness of breath or a change in their sense of taste or smell.
They also shouldn’t go to school if they’ve been in close contact with someone who has Covid 19 or if they have it themselves.
Concerns have been raised for teachers, with the ASTI worried about high-risk teachers as schools begin to reopen.
The union's Ann Piggott says some educators may interact with up to 180 pupils every day and believes "they are very much in danger of picking it [covid-19] up more than the students would be".
