The UK government is “pausing” plans to conduct rapid daily Covid-19 tests on close contacts of positive cases for students and staff in English secondary schools and colleges, it announced Wednesday.
A government spokesman said the change to the plans was the result of updated advice from UK scientific advisers. NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England have revised their advice and concluded that in light of the new variant’s higher prevalence and transmission rates, further evaluation work is needed to ensure it achieves its goal of breaking chains of transmission and reducing it. of cases of the virus in the community, ”said the spokesman.
“Therefore, we are pausing daily contact testing in all but a small number of high schools and colleges, where it will continue alongside a detailed evaluation.”
In a statement, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace cited concerns about the more transmissible variant of Covid-19 discovered in the UK as the reason for the change, noting that the ‘pandemic has entered a new phase and that the balance between risks and benefits for Covid-19 daily testing is now “unclear” and the government is recommended to interrupt the rollout of daily contact testing.
Covid strain VOC202012 / 01 was discovered in the UK and is common in the South East of England since November 2020.
The mass testing program in high schools and colleges would start in January to help identify asymptomatic cases in students and staff and reduce the need for self-isolation by using 30-minute lateral flow tests.
Daily tests were planned for all staff and students who “have been in close contact with a confirmed case, reducing the need for self-isolation” for all high schools and colleges, along with weekly rapid tests for all staff in secondary schools and colleges. , said the Ministry of Education.
National lockdown measures across England have forced schools to remain closed since January 5, but children of key workers are still allowed to attend. PHE confirmed that schools should continue to test staff and students currently attending school.
While the Covid-19 daily tests in schools in December were hailed by British Secretary of Education Gavin Williamson as a “milestone in our work to keep schools and colleges open to all,” scientists have expressed concern that the tests may not be accurate enough. and falsely reassure people and increase the spread of the coronavirus.