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WQ.14/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 25th JANUARY 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 1st FEBRUARY 2021
Question
Will the Minister inform the Assembly of the precise arrangements in place for Covid-19 testing in schools for children and staff in terms of the following –
- the year groups that will be tested;
- the staff who will be tested;
- the frequency of the tests (for example, whether they will be daily, weekly, monthly or termly);
- the expected accuracy of the tests; and
- the action that will be taken on receiving positive tests?
Answer
It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to planned screening testing rather than reactive testing such as contact tracing which is available to all students and staff
- Year 11, 12 and 13 students are currently offered weekly Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing.
- All primary and secondary school staff are also offered weekly LFD testing as well as regular PCR testing every six weeks.
- See above answers
- LFD accuracy
An evaluation run jointly by PHE Porton Down and Oxford University found that "the performance characteristics of the Innova LFD in the evaluations performed to date are good, with a low failure rate, high specificity (99.6%) and high viral antigen detection."
In the UK they have identified 27,000 infected people who would not otherwise have had to self- isolate.
Accuracy Summary:
Test specificity = 99.6%
Test sensitivity = In controlled conditions the test sensitivity was recorded at 76.8% overall for all PCR positive individuals, and over 90% of those with a high viral load.
In field evaluations, these tests still perform effectively and detect at least 50% of all PCR positive individuals and more than 70% of individuals with higher viral loads.
There is minimal difference in detection between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.
- If a student or staff member receives a positive LFD test result they will be required to take a PCR test to confirm. If the PCR test confirms a positive result, isolation and appropriate contact tracing will take place as required.
If a staff member received a positive PCR test result as part regular routine screening, they would be required to isolate and appropriate contact tracing will take place as required.
In both of the above scenarios deep cleaning of the area may also be required and actioned as appropriate.