The teaching union, the ASTI, says some schools could be missing up to half of their staff.

Rules around close contacts are set to be reviewed by public health officials tomorrow.

There will be no delay to schools reopening this week.

Leitrim schools will be closed tomorrow.

The Status Orange alert for Leitrim will be valid until 8am tomorrow morning.

The measure is an effort to tackle growing clusters in schools.

There was a 50 per cent increase in Covid outbreaks in schools last week - with 24 recorded.

Nationally 3,726 students and 605 staff members tested positive for Covid-19 in the union survey.