Kids will have to take Covid tests twice a week when they return to school

Boris Johnson laid out his ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ yesterday, which will see the gradual reopening of our country over four key stages.

The first of these begins on March 8th, with the full reopening of schools across England.

As part of this reopening, the government has confirmed that secondary school and college students will have to take two Covid tests a week.

Addressing the House of Commons yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister announced that the return of face-to-face teaching in schools would be ‘supported by twice weekly tests in secondary schools’.

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Pupils’ families will also be encouraged to take regular tests, as well as anyone in a support of childcare bubble, although it’s unclear at this stage how that will work.

The official roadmap out of lockdown document says: “In addition to the already established rapid testing regime and regular testing of staff, there will be twice-weekly testing of secondary school and college pupils, initially with on-site testing and then home testing.

“All households with school children, members of their support and childcare bubbles, and those in related occupations will also be encouraged to get tested regularly.”

According to the Department for Education, school children will be tested as they return on March 8th, with the guidance stating: “After an initial programme of three tests in school/college, students will be provided with two rapid tests to use each week at home.

“Staff in secondary schools will also be supplied with test kits to self swab and test themselves twice a week at home.”

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However, there have been some concerns over implementing a testing programme like this, including doubts over the reliability of results. 

Glyn Potts, headteacher at Newman RC College in Oldham, told the MEN: “Schools have spent a great deal of time and money planning for mass testing.

“If we are to continue to be asked to offer tests to students in school, then the logistical demands, extra staffing and disruption need to be weighed against the benefits of what is widely reported as an inaccurate test.”

In regards to asking families to do the tests at home, he added that it ‘would call into question the validity and expectation of such tests thus making the goal questionable’.

This follows the news that secondary school pupils will have to wear masks in classrooms and corridors when they return.

The face covering rule will be in place for a ‘limited period’, which will include at least the ‘initial weeks’ when kids return to schools.