AQW 22114/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 09/09/2021
Answered On Date: 25/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) to outline what advice he has received on the efficacy of lateral flow testing for COVID-19 in schools; and (ii) what the evidence base is for public statements on the issue.

Answer:

Research has shown that around 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus do not display symptoms and may be unknowingly spreading the virus.

Regular testing of those who do not have symptoms in schools has helped us find hidden positive cases, who are then able to self-isolate in an early and timely way, and thus helping to break chains of transmission. LFDs are effective at detecting a high viral load in an individual. These are people who are thought to be the most infectious.

Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) are validated technology and have undergone rigorous and extensive testing and evaluation including at Public Health England and Oxford University research laboratories to show that they are accurate and sensitive enough to be used for case-finding and surveillance purposes.

There are many relevant research studies including for example Asymptomatic testing backed by new research studies - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)