Non-symptomatic contacts can stay in school – ESC

The decision to allow non-symptomatic staff and students to stay in class will be taken on a case-by-case basis through contact tracing.

‘Wherever possible, it is the intention that non-symptomatic contacts will not be required to isolate,’ said an Education spokesman.

‘We expect this to lessen the impact of any outbreak of the virus in our settings and help keep as many learners in education as we can.’

The spokesman said schools were not anticipating issues with reduced student attendance or staffing when they open on Friday 3 September, despite warning earlier in the week that there may be an increase in cases ‘cropping up’ in schools and education settings.

‘The vast majority of staff are fully vaccinated and therefore it is expected that they would not be required to isolate should they be in contact with a positive case – providing they are not symptomatic.’

Lateral flow tests, sent out to all teachers and students this week, require primary and secondary age pupils to carry out two observed lateral flow tests in the next week before they return to class and older age pupils, support staff and teachers to perform lateral flow tests twice a week until at least until half term and potentially longer.

But it seems some of the mailed lateral flow tests have gone astray.

Several people have been reporting on social media that lateral flow tests destined for students and staff had been delivered to them by mistake.

‘The packs have been sent to the addresses schools have for parents,’ the spokesman said.

‘While every effort has been made to ensure this information was accurate and current, there may be instances where, for some reason, the address to which the pack was addressed was incorrect.

‘If parents have moved and not updated the school with their new address, then the packs will have gone to the wrong address.’

In an effort to ensure all students and teachers can make the deadlines set to take the two tests before school starts, spare test packs will be available from 3pm tomorrow for collection from Frossard House and Beau Sejour – by which time all packs should have been delivered by Guernsey Post.

Education is trusting parents and students to take the tests as advised.

‘While this screening is not mandatory, we hope and expect the majority of students, parents and staff will support our efforts to keep our educational settings operational by limiting the risk of potential outbreaks and the impact on our children, young people and staff,’ the spokesman said.