The UK government is “halting” plans to implement daily rapid tests of Covid-19 on close contacts of positive cases for students and staff in English high schools and colleges, it announced on Wednesday.
A government spokesman said the change in plans was the result of updated advice from UK scientific advisers. “NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England reviewed their advice and concluded that, in light of the higher prevalence and transmission rates of the new variant, more evaluation work is needed to ensure that it is reaching its goal of breaking the chains of transmission and reduction cases of the virus in the community, ”said the spokesman.
“Therefore, we are pausing the daily contact test at all schools, except for a small number of secondary schools and colleges, where it will continue along with a detailed assessment.”
In a statement, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace cited concerns about the most communicable variant of Covid-19 discovered in the UK as the reason for the change, commenting that the “pandemic has entered a new phase” and that the balance of risk and benefits for Covid-19 daily testing is now unclear and it is recommended that the government stop the implementation of the daily contact test.
The Covid strain VOC202012 / 01 was discovered in the United Kingdom and has been prevalent in southeastern England since November 2020.
The mass testing program at secondary schools and colleges was due to start in January to help identify asymptomatic cases among students and staff and reduce the need for self-isolation using 30-minute side flow tests.
He planned daily tests for all staff and students who were “a close contact to a confirmed case, reducing the need for self-isolation” for all high schools and colleges, along with weekly rapid tests for all staff in high schools and colleges, according to the Department of Education.
National blockade measures across England have forced schools to remain closed since 5 January, however, the children of important workers can still attend. The PHE confirmed that schools should continue to test staff and students who attend schools.
Although Covid-19’s daily school tests were hailed by UK Secretary of Education Gavin Williamson as an “important time in our work to keep schools and colleges open to everyone” in December, scientists expressed concern that the tests may not be accurate enough could falsely reassure people and increase the spread of the coronavirus.