AQW 12884/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 18/01/2021
Answered On Date: 07/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he will give consideration to including teachers in schools providing for children with special educational needs among those, like care home workers, who benefit from mobile Coronavirus testing.

Answer:

A programme of regular asymptomatic testing for all staff and children in special schools commenced at the beginning of March 2021. The testing programme uses testing technology called LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) which is a less invasive saliva based testing process.

All 39 Special schools in Northern Ireland are participating in the programme which continued throughout the summer period and continues to be available for the new term in September 2021.