COVID-19 cases in schools and colleges has remained very low, since schools returned last month. Around 2,500 Lateral Flow Tests have been completed in all schools since January, which includes around 1,000 students.
The Lateral Flow Testing Programme is now in place across all schools and colleges and for students in Years 11 and above.
Once the digital app is rolled out across all schools to record this data, the figures will be updated weekly and published on the school and college statistics page on the Government of Jersey website.
Every staff member in primary and secondary schools and colleges, as well as students in Years 11 and above, are being offered Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) for COVID-19 on their school premises.
This rapid regular testing, also called Lateral Flow Testing (LFT), is designed to provide an additional layer of preventative safety measures in schools by detecting asymptomatic cases to help keep schools open and children in continuous face-to-face learning.
Up to a third of individuals who test positive for COVID-19 have no symptoms at all and can therefore spread the virus unknowingly. Therefore, this form of testing those without symptoms is vital.
Education Minister Deputy Jeremy Maçon said: “I would like to thank all schools and colleges for their hard work and commitment to making this happen so that we can continue to keep children and staff safe and enable schools to remain open.
“I’d also like to thank the clinical team who provided the training to staff who have helped contribute to the success of this programme.
“COVID-19 positive cases across schools and colleges, in both Government and non-provided provision remains very low. This success is due to the diligence and hard work of everyone in our nurseries, schools and colleges this term. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our staff across education and students a wonderful half-term break next week.”
Lateral Flow Testing will continue weekly after half-term. All staff in private and Government-provided nurseries and schools and colleges have the opportunity for their next scheduled PCR test during half-term, and we would encourage them to call the helpline to book their test before the new term starts.
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