Mary Immaculate College in Limerick is offering students a free Covid-19 test.
It comes as the Department of Public Health MidWest identifies 46 cases of Covid-19 among the student population there since January.
The vast majority of those cases were recorded in the past four weeks.
We would like to remind everyone of how transmissible this virus is and how household visits/social gatherings can lead to household infections and larger outbreaks.
Cases are rising so please adhere to all guidelines.@MICLimerick @PublicHealthMW @MICStudentLife pic.twitter.com/bnyKlACH9j
— Mary I SU (@maryisu) March 16, 2021
Students of the teaching college received an email this morning, encouraging them to register for a test.
They do not need to be a close contact of a confirmed case or have symptoms to avail of the service.
A spokesperson for the HSE said that students have a "unique risk profile" as they live in large households, travel to and from their family home and may have a part time job.
#COVID19 has a terrible impact on students' and younger adults' lives
Not seeing friends or living your normal life is hard.
It might seem ok to just make one visit. Sadly, it isn't, and here's why. #antiviral | #StaySafe | #HoldFirm pic.twitter.com/0JDR7Gam2I
— Department of Further and Higher Education (@DeptofFHed) March 16, 2021
On top of that, many do not present with symptoms - even if the virus is present.
Public Health Mid-West is also investigating more than 55 household situations, involving at least two cases each.
These cases are across the Mid-West Region and were reported this month.
