Covid-19

COVID Update

From, Monday 21 February, the Government removed the guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice-weekly asymptomatic testing. The education testing delivery channels will remain open so that staff and students of secondary age and above can access tests if needed to respond to local public health advice, in particular in relation to outbreaks. Staff and students are also able to access test kits from their local pharmacy or online.

From Thursday 24 February, the Government removed the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days. In addition, the Government will:

• No longer ask fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days, and have removed the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate.
• End routine contact tracing. Contacts are no longer required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests. Staff, children and young people should attend their education settings as usual.
• End the legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers when they are required to self-isolate.

Face Coverings

As you are aware, we reintroduced face -coverings towards the end of last term, due to one of our ‘step-up’ measures with an increase in cases, as recommended by the local outbreak team. Cases were decreasing towards the end of term and therefore we will not ask staff or students to wear face coverings in the corridor or communal areas, however, should a student or staff member choose to, that is absolutely fine. This applies to transport as well. We of course continue to have this measure as part of our outbreak management plan and therefore can be used if needed.

Schools Covid 19 Operational Guidance - Feb 22