Schools are reporting up to a 50% absence rate across the county today, the first day back after the Christmas break.
Figures released by the Kerry Education and Training Board show that 48% of post-primary ETB students are at home isolating.
Post-primary schools under the remit of the Kerry Education and Training Board, recorded an absence of 48% of students, while an average of seven teachers per school were out, directly related to Covid-19.
Kerry ETB also says an average of three special needs assistants per school remained at home.
One voluntary secondary school, outside of the ETB remit, recorded a 32% absence of students while 20% of staff were at home isolating.
Another voluntary secondary school also recorded a 20% staff absence and a 44% student absence.
St Pat's Secondary School in Castleisland had two teachers and one SNA out while 32% of students were marked absent.
The Department of Education says it expects to have official figures for absentees across the county next week.
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