Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff

As more pupils and students return to the classroom the Government has asked that all adults who live in households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, test themselves twice a week.  Many parents will have received a letter from their school asking them to access regular testing.

Around 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms, but can still pass it on. The aim of the rapid testing is to test as many people as possible to help stop the spread of infections – especially as places, such as schools, start to reopen.  

To support this, home testing kits (a rapid lateral flow device test) are now available for anyone who is over the age of 18 who lives in the same home as a primary school, secondary school or college age student.

People who are asymptomatic (do not display symptoms of Covid-19) can find out how to get a rapid lateral flow test by visiting: Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Reporting results

• It is really important that results are reported. People are asked to report results online to NHS Test and Trace or over the phone by calling 119.
• If anyone in the household tests positive or gets coronavirus symptoms, they should tell the school and:

• self-isolate immediately
• Get a PCR test at a local test centre to confirm the result. PCR Tests work in a different way to lateral flow device test as the swab kits go to a laboratory. The PCR tests are better at finding very small amounts of the virus, especially early in infection, so these are used primarily in people who have symptoms.

• Follow the stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
• A negative result means the test did not find signs of coronavirus. But this does not guarantee people do not have coronavirus, so they should keep following all coronavirus advice including:

• regular handwashing
• social distancing
• wearing a face covering where recommended