Parents will have to test their children for coronavirus at least twice a week regardless of whether they have symptoms or not once the new academic year starts, the Welsh Government has said.
The Welsh Government is demanding parents make sure their child takes twice-weekly lateral flow tests before term starts and throughout the rest of the academic year in a desperate bid to prevent the same level of disruption to day-to-day learning that was seen during the peak of the pandemic.
The strict measures come just a few weeks before children go back to school and colleges and universities re-open. Initially all learners will be expected to take two lateral flow tests in the week before their first day back. And throughout term time everyone is being asked to take regular rapid lateral flow tests twice a week and to report the results online.
Read more: Coronavirus infection rates, cases and deaths for all parts of Wales on Wednesday, August 25
The latest data shows that current coronavirus case rates are higher in the under-25 age group and this is expected to increase when students return to schools and colleges across Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. It's hoped regular testing will keep infection rates under control and reduce transmission in the community. On Tuesday Mark Drakeford refused to rule out a return of coronavirus restrictions as cases continue to soar.
This week the Welsh Government confirmed that all 16- and 17-year-olds in Wales had been offered the vaccine and 12- to 15-year-olds who are clinically vulnerable will also be offered vaccination before term starts.
It has also been confirmed that should shielding – which is not currently in place – ever be reintroduced children and young people with underlying conditions will no longer be classed as clinically vulnerable.
Jeremy Miles, the minister for education and Welsh language, said: “Earlier in the summer I wanted to ensure that at the start of the 2021-22 school year we could keep learners and staff safe and lessen the possible disruptions posed by Covid-19.
“By now all of our workforce will either have received or been offered a vaccine. We have also offered the vaccine to all of Wales 16- and 17-year-olds and will offer it to clinically vulnerable 12- to 15-year-olds.
“This means the risks posed by Covid are much lower – but we still need people to follow some rules to make sure we don’t risk the level of disruption of day-to-day learning that we saw during the pandemic.”
The testing news was welcomed by school leader's union NAHT Cymru. Director, Laura Doel, said: "We welcome the continuation of lateral flow testing as one of a number of mitigation measures. However, while lateral flow tests have a role to play in preventing the spread of Covid-19, they should not be the only measure to rely on. It is vital that as cases in Wales start to rise that we continue to maintain robust measures in schools to protect learners and staff. Indeed, the First Minister has not ruled out bringing in national restrictions once again.
"While we wait for the new guidance on Covid mitigation measures in schools to be published by the Welsh Government, now is not the time to be complacent and rush to return to pre-pandemic norms when the threat of the virus still remains high. We want the return to school to be sustainable to ensure learners are able to remain in school safely."
The measures set out by the Welsh Government state:
- Staff in primary schools and staff and learners in secondary schools and colleges without symptoms should take two lateral flow tests (LFTs) three days apart during the week leading up to their first day back. If the test is positive they should self-isolate and book a PCR test.
- Going into the new term staff in primary schools and staff and learners in secondary schools and colleges not showing symptoms should continue to take regular rapid lateral flow tests twice a week and report the results online.
Any staff or learner with symptoms of Covid-19 – however mild – should stay at home and book a PCR test at their closest test site.
- Learners years seven and above should continue to wear face coverings on school and college transport.
- People who are invited for a vaccine should take up the offer.
- Maintain regular hand-washing.
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