UK’s government announced that pupils from secondary schools in England would have to take Covid-19 tests before they can resume class.
As the UK seeks to reduce the spread of Omicron among the rising infections, all secondary students from England will need to be negative for Covid prior to the start of the next term.
Schools will receive kits to enable students to test twice per week going forward, in order to detect any potential infected persons before an outbreak occurs.
England will join Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland in adopting a new testing policy. There students already have to be tested twice per week. Wales’ government is asking staff and pupils in Wales to submit three tests per week for the start of the new term.
Sajid Javid (Health Secretary) called for regular testing when discussing the new measures. “a key way to support schools and protect face-to-face teaching.”Officials are trying to reduce concerns about the possibility that Omicron could spread and prevent teaching in person from continuing in this term.
Nadhim Zahawi, Education Secretary, stated on Sunday that pupils and teachers would have to cover their faces when school starts for the new term. This will increase Covid-19 safety precautions.
Twitter thread, he laid out the government’s efforts to protect educational establishments from the Omicron variant, including testing, face masks, increased ventilation, temporarily boosting the workforce, and vaccinations.
The UK government maintains that the scientific evidence and data do not support further restrictions on schools, despite the Covid-related measures. England and Wales both recorded new Covid cases of 137.583 on Sunday. The bank holiday weekend caused data delays in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
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