Serial coronavirus testing for schools and colleges in new year

Schools and colleges will begin serial coronavirus testing in the new year, Welsh Government has announced.

Lateral flow tests (LFTs), which were used in the mass testing programme in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, will be used as part of the scheme.

The LFTs produce a result in around 20 to 30 minutes.

Welsh Government has said schools and colleges will be offered support, equipment and training ready for the serial testing to begin.

Any pupil, teacher or staff member who is identified as a close contact to a coronavirus case will be asked to either self-isolate for ten days, or take a LFT at the start of each school day for the duration of the self-isolation period.

Those who test positive at any point will be asked to self-isolate, while those who test negative will be able to carry on as normal.

All staff working in special schools will be offered weekly testing.

The serial testing system will be rolled out across primary schools and higher education settings, such as universities, at a later date.

Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “We recognise that it has not been easy for pupils and staff who have been required to self-isolate as a result of having been identified as a ‘close contact’ and we recognise the impact it has had on face-to-face teaching.

“Earlier this month we announced the reduction in the period of time for which a person needs to self-isolate from 14 days to ten days.

“Following discussions with Public Health Wales and the Children and Schools Technical Advisory Cell, we are pleased to confirm that we will introduce a serial testing programme in schools and further education settings in the new year.”

Wales’ Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “The lessons we have learnt from using LFTs in pilots in higher education institutions across Wales and secondary schools in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf will help inform how we can successfully deliver lateral flow testing in schools and other education settings in the future.

Caerphilly’s Senedd Member, Hefin David, described the news as an “important step” and said: “I’ve spoken with constituents whose children have been affected by the isolation periods on more than one occasion.

“My own daughter has had to self-isolate three times in the last couple of months.”

He added: “School staff across Wales have worked so hard to keep our children safe the last few months and it’s important we give them the support they need to be able to continue to do that.”