Regular Covid Testing Encouraged as All Pupils Return to School

Teachers, parents and secondary school children are all being encouraged to get regularly tested for Covid-19, as schools open to all pupils next week.

With around one in three people with the virus showing no symptoms, the Government hopes to break the chain of infection by identifying more people who may unknowingly have Covid.

Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Our schools have been working incredibly hard to get ready to open up to all pupils, and I am very proud of our school community who have dealt with everything that has been thrown at them, from home learning to testing.

“It will be fantastic to see all children back to school from Monday, but it is important that everyone continues to play their part so lockdown restrictions can be lifted even further.

“This means sticking to the rules and if you are a parent, school worker or at high school that you get tested regularly, even if you have no symptoms.”

The county council’s health, safety and wellbeing team has been providing advice and guidance to schools, to ensure they are safe and ready for more pupils to get back in the classroom.

People being encouraged to have regular rapid Covid tests are:

• Secondary school pupils

• Primary and secondary school staff

• Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary and secondary pupils

• Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary and secondary staff

Secondary school pupils are being asked to take their first three tests at their school, before continuing to test at home with a test kit supplied by their school.

Primary and secondary staff should have twice-weekly tests using an at home testing kit provided by their school.

People in one of the specified bubbles can get a twice-weekly test through their employer, by collecting a home kit from a test site, or ordering a test kit online via www.gov.uk.

Anyone without symptoms can also book a regular test at one of Staffordshire’s community testing or pop-up centres at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/testing.