The Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, has issued a letter appealing to parents and guardians not to see the return of children to school as a signal that social mixing is acceptable.
A phased return to schools will get under way on Monday, when primary school students from junior infants to second class get back to the classroom for the first time this year.
Remaining primary school students will return on 15 March, subject to ongoing reviews. Dr Glynn asked that parents and guardians avoid "congregating at school gates" and appealed for them not to organise play dates or after-school activities that involve household mixing.