The UK government is “pausing” plans to develop rapid daily tests of Covid-19 on close contacts of positive cases for students and staff at English secondary schools and universities, 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 have reviewed their advice and concluded that, in light of the prevalence and higher transmission rates of the new variant, additional assessment work is needed to ensure that it is achieving its goal of breaking transmission chains and reducing virus cases in the community, ”the spokesman said.
“Therefore, we pause the daily contact tests at all high schools and colleges except a small number, where it will continue along with the detailed assessment.”
In a statement, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace cited concerns over the more transmissible variant of Covid-19 discovered in the UK as a reason for the change, commenting that the “pandemic has entered a new phase” and that the balance of risks and benefits for Covid-19 daily testing is now “unclear” and the government is advised to pause the launch of daily contact testing.
The Covid strain VOC202012 / 01 was discovered in the UK and has been prevalent in the south-east of England since November 2020.
The mass testing program in high schools and universities was to begin in January to help identify asymptomatic cases among students and staff and reduce the need for isolation by using 30-minute lateral flow tests. .
He planned daily tests for all staff and students who have been “a close contact of a confirmed case, reducing the need for personal isolation” for all high schools and colleges, along with weekly quick tests for all high school and college staff, according to the Department of Education.
National blockade measures across England have forced schools to close since January 5, although children of key workers can still attend. PHE confirmed that schools should continue to test staff and students currently entering schools.
Although UK Secretary of Education Gavin Williamson hailed the daily testing of Covid-19 in schools as an “important moment in our work to keep schools and colleges open” in December, scientists have expressed concern that the tests may not be accurate enough and could falsely reassure people and increase the spread of coronavirus.