Rapid testing rolled out to school staff and pupils

This article is taken from North East Lincolnshire Council’s news page.

Lateral Flow Testing (LFTs) is being rolled out to staff and pupils as they return to school this week.

The tests, which provide a result in about half an hour, can detect coronavirus in those who are asymptomatic – not displaying any symptoms.

Households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, will be able to test themselves twice every week at home.

Twice-weekly testing is also being offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders.

The move is aimed at quickly identifying positive COVID cases and isolating them and their contacts to reduce the spread of the virus.

LFTs are also being offered to key workers in North East Lincolnshire who continue to leave their home to go to work despite lockdown restrictions.

There are different ways to get a test for school staff, pupils, and members of their households, childcare and support bubbles in England who do not have symptoms of coronavirus.

Secondary school pupils will undertake their first 3 tests whilst supervised at school, and will then carry out their fourth test using a testing kit at home. Pupils will then continue to take a test using a home-testing kit twice a week. Results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace. Instructions will be provided with the kits.

Primary & secondary school staff will be able to take tests at home using testing kits provided.

Members of a household, childcare bubble or support bubble of staff or a pupil you can get a twice-weekly test through their employer if they offer testing to employees, from a local test site, by collecting a home test kit from a test site, or by ordering a home test kit online.

For more information visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/covid-19-test-trace-isolate.