The HSE has issued a warning to parents on primary school WhatsApp groups about the dangers of rumour mills naming a child who has Covid-19. hatsApp exchanges between parents could go into overdrive following the decision to abandon routine testing and tracing of primary schoolchildren who are close contacts of a classmate with the virus. But this potential flurry of exchanges, which can easily turn into a hotbed of well-meaning school gossip about a Covid-19 positive child, should not be posted. The HSE told parents that it is important that “a child’s confidentiality is not broken in line with normal GDPR requirements”. The advice warned: ”It is important that children and families do not feel targeted or pressure to release information.” It follows confirmation that school principals have been told there is “no clinical need” for information to be shared with parents of classmates if a pupil tests positive. However, parents should not send their child to school if they have possible symptoms of Covid-19 and they can contact their GP for free about arranging a test or book online. It comes as around 10,000 children, who were restricting movements after being identified as a close contact, returned to the…
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Parents warned not to use school WhatsApp groups to name children with Covid-19 – Independent.ie
