Tubber NS moves to clear up confusion

The Principal of Tubber National School in Offaly has come out to clarify that their school has not been closed due to the coronavirus.

“Tubber National School in Offaly is open and operational as normal,” Kiera Dowd told the Offaly Independent on Friday afternoon.

“There has been massive confusion because Tubber NS in Clare has been closed due to the coronavirus.”

The school, located on the Offaly/Westmeath border close to Moate, sent out a text to inform parents that they were not closing due to the coronavirus on Thursday evening, explaining that it is a school of the same name in Clare.

However, there has been widespread sharing locally of the message on the Clare school's Facebook confirming the closure in the mistaken belief that it is the school in Tubber on the Offaly/Westmeath border.

The Westmeath Independent also received several messages and texts querying if the local school was closed today (Friday).

Meanwhile, Nursing Homes Ireland has confirmed that visiting restrictions are now in place in nursing homes nationwide. No non-essential visiting, children or groups will be allowed.

All visitors are asked to contact prior to attending. Visitors should only seek to attend in urgent circumstances and the management reserve the right to impose full restrictions where necessary.

In a statement, Nursing Homes Ireland said: “Older people and people in nursing homes with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly vulnerable if they contact the virus. The virus presents an unprecedented situation for our nursing homes and the care provided within them. Nursing homes are imposing the visitor restrictions in the best interests of residents and staff. We thank people for their understanding and patience during this period of unprecedent challenges presented by Covid19.

Nursing Homes Ireland added that it is monitoring the evolving situation on an ongoing basis and is in continuous contact with the Department of Health, National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), HSE and all relevant health authorities.