Ashfield MP delighted to see rapid Covid testing coming to schools

Ashfield MP Lee Anderson has welcomed the decision that every secondary school and college in England, as well as special schools and alternative provision, will have access to rapid coronavirus testing from January to help keep staff and students as safe as possible and in education.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Building on the success of testing pilots in schools and colleges over the past few months, from January all staff in secondary schools and colleges will be eligible for weekly rapid tests as part of an initial rollout.

Students will be eligible for daily testing for seven days if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Under current guidelines, up to a whole school bubble has to self-isolate if one student or staff member tests positive.

Rapid coronavirus testing will be rolled out in schools from JanuaryRapid coronavirus testing will be rolled out in schools from January
Rapid coronavirus testing will be rolled out in schools from January

From January, those in the same bubble not need to self-isolate if they agree to be tested once a day.

This will improve attendance and ensure young people can benefit from face-to-face teaching as much as possible.

This has been in an issue with some local schools.

Staff will also be eligible for daily testing if they are identified as a close contact.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Around one in three people have the virus without symptoms so could be spreading the disease unknowingly.

Asymptomatic testing helps to identify positive cases more quickly, and break chains of transmission.

Primary schools will then be supported to roll out testing as quickly as possible over the spring term.

Mr Anderson said: “When I spoke to year 11 and year 13 students recently they were concerned about missing more school.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"One student had self-isolated twice due to someone in his bubble testing positive.

"That meant another four weeks of missed education.

"Often students haven’t come in to contact with the person testing positive but entire year groups have to isolate.

"Anything that enables our youngsters to stay safe and stay in school is good news.

We know that young people often don’t show symptoms.

"One Sutton school told me that out of all the students testing positive, only one had shown any symptoms which were mild.

"This testing will really help slow the spread of the virus.”