Pupils in Liverpool are being asked to take an at-home coronavirus test ahead of the start of the new school term.
The Spring term for Liverpool schools starts on Wednesday 5 January following the break for the Christmas holiday.
Messaging from Liverpool City Council is asking that pupils return to classrooms in the safest way possible and to have taken a test three days before term starts.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson issues NHS warning as covid cases continue to surge
Pupils are being urged to take a test in order to slow the spread of coronavirus and the Omicron variant.
Recent data shows that up to December 27 2021, the total number of confirmed cases for the last seven days was 7552, an increase of 3233 cases on the previous week.
The same set of data showed the latest weekly rate of Covid in Liverpool is 1516.3 per 100,000 population.
As of December 29, the case rate was 1944.8 per 100,000 for the city.
Comparatively, for the week of January 4 2021, as the city was entering a new four month lockdown, Liverpool’s case rate was 488.1 per 100,000 population.
However since then, according to government data covering up to January 2, 847,148 vaccinations have been given to people in Liverpool, including 198,318 booster doses.
This includes a further 6,299 people who came forward for their first dose of the covid vaccine in December, alongside 7,501 receiving their second.
The request for pupils to take a test before returning to school comes as ministers have issued guidance for masks wearing in classrooms to return.
The reintroduction of masks aims to slow the spread of the Omicron variant and continue face-to-face teaching despite the growing surge in cases.
Health Minister Nadhim Zahawi has outlined face coverings would be required until January 26 - the date when the current Plan B measures run out.
Currently pupils were already advised to wear face coverings in communal spaces, with the extra guidance measures in classrooms introduced for the new term after Christmas.
The Government has also said it will be making 7,000 air cleaning units available to early years settings, schools and colleges in a bid to improve ventilation and slow the spread of Coronavirus.
Mr Zahawi said: "Teachers and support staff across the country have put in a Herculean effort over the past 18 months and more, and I know we can count on their steadfast support in the coming weeks as we weather this storm.
"I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all their efforts to help children fulfil their potential.
"We will do everything in our power as a government to minimise the disruption to schools."
