The principal of a primary school in Co Mayo says they've now been told to reverse their decision to close until after Christmas.
Claremorris Boys National School had decided to shut its doors after a number of students tested positive for the virus, saying they would not reopen until January 5th.
Health officials did not back the move, however, and this evening it has emerged that school governance did not support the early closure either.
Principal Mark Loftus told The Hard Shoulder the school will be open on Monday for those who are not isolating.
He said: "The latest is that school governance are not supporting us to close, because public health hasn't given that advice to us.
"Unfortunately it appears we cannot close after all".
The school had initially said they intended to close to "support and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of our pupils, their families, the teaching staff and their families and the wider school community".
Earlier, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said they do not comment on individual cases.
They said that while they understand schools and principals have been working tirelessly through these unprecedented times, there is no public health rationale for altering agreed standardised school breaks.
