AQW 21932/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 07/09/2021
Answered On Date: 01/03/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to outline the evidence behind Day 2 and Day 8 testing in schools, given that the infectious period for the Delta Variant is longer than with previous variants of the Coronavirus.

Answer:

The current advice is that all school-aged children and young people (over the age of 5) who are identified as close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case are advised to isolate immediately and to take a lateral flow device (LFD) test as soon as possible

If this is negative they can stop isolating and continue to take daily lateral flow tests until the tenth day after the last date of contact with the positive case. If any lateral flow test is positive, they should isolate immediately in line with current guidance.

If they develop symptoms at any time they should isolate immediately and book a PCR; even if a lateral flow test has been negative.

Children under five years of age do not need to take a PCR test, even if they have symptoms like a cough or temperature, unless advised to do so by their doctor. If they develop symptoms, parents are encouraged to carry out a lateral flow test. If this lateral flow test is positive they should self-isolate.

If a child under 5 is identified as a close contact of a positive case, parents are encouraged to carry out a lateral flow test. If this is negative, daily lateral flow tests are not required and they do not need to isolate. If a lateral flow test result is positive they should isolate. There is no need to do a PCR test.

If it is not possible to carry out any test because the child will not tolerate the swab, parents and carers should take a cautious approach and avoid contact with vulnerable and older adults.

Further details can be found at:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-testing

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating-and-close-contacts

All elements of test and trace are kept under regular review and subject to change taking account of new and emerging scientific, medical and epidemiological evidence.