Objectives There is limited evidence on the risk of in-flight transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This study estimated the extent of in-flight SARS-CoV-2 transmission on international flights arriving into Ireland during December 2020. Study design Cross-sectional analysis. Methods National surveillance data identified all notified cases of COVID-19 who were infectious while travelling on international flights to Ireland during December 2020. Close contacts of cases were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and results were collated to estimate the pooled secondary attack rate across all flights. Laboratory and epidemiological data were obtained from the Health Service Executive Covid Care Tracker, a national database of COVID-19 cases in Ireland. Results 165 infectious cases of COVID-19 were identified on 134 incoming flights; 40.0% were symptomatic on board. There were 2,099 flight close contacts identified, of whom 40.9% had results of a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test within 14 days of arrival. The pooled secondary attack rate for these contacts was 7.0%, and was higher among those on flights of ≥5 hours duration (p=0.008). Over half (59.1%) of close contacts had no SARS-CoV-2 test result recorded; reasons included incorrect or absent contact details (26.5%), and no response when contacted (17.8%). Conclusions In this national study investigating transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from international flights arriving into Ireland, the pooled secondary attack rate was 7.0%. International travel is likely to have contributed to the third wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ireland in early 2021. Application of non-pharmaceutical interventions remains central to mitigating the risk of in-flight transmission.

Objectives Schools in the Republic of Ireland reopened to students and staff in late August 2020. We sought to determine the test positivity rate of close contacts of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in schools during the first half-term of the 2020/2021 academic year. Methods National-level data from the schools' testing pathway were interrogated to determine the positivity rate of close contacts of cases of COVID-19 in Irish primary, postprimary and special schools during the first half-term of 2020/2021 academic year. The positivity rates among adult and child close contacts were compared and the proportion of national cases of COVID-19 who were aged 4–18 years during the observation period was calculated to assess whether this proportion increased after schools reopened. Results Of all, 15,533 adult and child close contacts were tested for COVID-19 through the schools' testing pathway during the first half-term of the 2020/2021 academic year. Three hundred and ninety-nine close contacts tested positive, indicating a positivity rate of 2.6% (95% confidence interval: 2.3–2.8%). The positivity rates of child and adult close contacts were similarly low (2.6% vs 2.7%, P = 0.7). The proportion of all national cases of COVID-19 who were aged 4–18 years did not increase during the first half-term of the 2020/2021 school year. Conclusions The low positivity rate of close contacts of cases of COVID-19 in schools indicate that transmission of COVID-19 in Irish schools during the first half-term of the 2020/2021 academic year was low. These findings support policies to keep schools open during the pandemic.

Background Schools in Ireland closed in March 2020 as part of a national strategy to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). The extent to which schools contribute to the overall propagation of SARS-CoV-2 was continuing to evolve internationally. Aims To examine regional data on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in primary, post-primary and special schools in Cork and Kerry, two counties in southwest Ireland, during the first 6 weeks of the 2020–2021 academic year and determine the rate of in-school transmission. Methods Data were obtained from the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) system and supplemented with digital records from the regional Department of Public Health (Dept PH) and from the Health Service Executive (HSE) Covid Care Tracker application. The positivity rate among school close contacts was calculated to determine the rate of in-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Results The overall rate of in-school transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was low at 4.1%. Positivity rates among students and staff who were close contacts were similarly low (3.1% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.07). One secondary case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged, on average, for every 7.6 infectious days spent by an index case in school. Schools accounted for 2.2% of all notified cases of COVID-19 in the region during the observation period. Conclusions During the first 6 weeks of the academic year, the rate of in-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the region was low, and schools did not contribute substantially to the overall burden of COVID-19.

The full effects of meteorological variables on mortality have not yet been elucidated. This study's aim was to investigate whether 30-day in-hospital mortality in emergency hospital admissions for non-respiratory diseases were sensitive to the effects of humidity and ambient temperature on the day of admission. We studied all emergency medical admissions to St. James's Hospital, Dublin, during 2002Dublin, during -2018 and investigated temperature and humidity on day of admission. We employed multivariable logistic regression to identify temperature and humidity mortality predictors, adjusting for underlying comorbidities. Lower temperatures on day of admission predicted higher 30-day in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.17), but lower humidity levels did not (adjusted OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.91-1.03). There was no interaction between meteorological variables and comorbidities on mortality. In conclusion, temperature may be a more significant predictor of inhospital mortality than humidity for non-respiratory patients.

ObjectivesGay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) have a higher risk of acquiring hepatitis A and B viruses (HAV and HBV) than the general population and are recommended for vaccination against both in Ireland. This study aims to determine the prevalence of self-reported HAV and HBV infection and vaccination among gbMSM in Ireland and explore factors associated with self-reported HAV and HBV vaccination among gbMSM.MethodsThis study analysed Irish data from the European MSM Internet Survey 2017 (EMIS-2017) to measure the prevalence of self-reported HAV and HBV infection and vaccination among gbMSM in Ireland. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the associations between sociodemographic, healthcare-related and behavioural factors and self-reported vaccination.ResultsThere were 2083 EMIS-2017 respondents in Ireland. Among HIV-negative gbMSM, 4.6% and 4.4% reported previous HAV and HBV infection, respectively, and 51% and 57% reported the receipt of one or more vaccine dose for HAV and HBV, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, HIV-negative gbMSM had lower odds of self-reported HAV vaccination if they lived outside the capital, Dublin (aOR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.78), had no third-level education (aOR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.92), were not tested for HIV in the last year (aOR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.50), had never tried to obtain pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, aOR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.96) and had not been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the previous year (aOR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.63). Similar associations were observed for self-reported HBV vaccination.ConclusionsSelf-reported vaccination against HAV and HBV among gbMSM in Ireland is high, but the level of vaccination remains insufficient to protect against future HAV and HBV infections and outbreaks. Efforts to increase vaccination coverage among gbMSM should focus on men who live outside the capital, have lower educational attainment and do not engage with sexual health services.