People are being urged to limit their social contacts and avoid gatherings in the run up to the Leaving Cert.
The Public Health Department in the North East says cases in schools in the region have been linked to cases outside of school environments.
The unit says the majority of Covid cases in schools in the North East have been linked to cases outside the school environment and social gatherings
are contributing to the spread of the virus among children, young people and subsequently in schools.
It's issued a message, urging people to 'protect' schools and Leaving Cert students in particular, as they sit exams in the coming weeks.
Dr. Augustine Pereira, Director of Public Health North East, has said he's "concerned about settings where multiple households are coming together and
undermining the importance of public health guidelines".
