Pupils urged to take Covid tests during term

Secondary pupils across Monklands are being reminded of the importance of taking Covid tests throughout the new term to “keep disruption to a minimum [and] help prevent outbreaks of the virus”.

Council officials are asking pupils at the area’s 23 high schools to test with a lateral flow device (LFD) twice every week.

The request is “to limit the spread of infection in the school community” amid rising infections of the Omicron variant of coronavirus; with all staff in schools, early learning and childcare settings also being asked to follow the same testing advice.

Education convener Councillor Frank Mcnally said: “The best way to avoid further disruption to our children’s education is through regular testing.

“We have had huge support from communities across North Lanarkshire during these challenging times and are doing all we can to ensure the impact the pandemic is having on our day-to-day lives is kept to an absolute minimum.”

Derek Brown, the council’s executive director of education and families, added: “We are extremely grateful for the support we’ve had from pupils, parents, carers and staff throughout the pandemic.

“However, to keep disruption in our schools and education centres to a minimum, it’s essential that secondary pupils and all staff continue to test regularly to help prevent outbreaks; and it’s also important that all results are reported online, whether positive, negative or void.”

All lateral flow results, whether positive, negative or void should be recorded via the online portal. Council officials say pupils testing positive should isolate for 10 days – or, following new government guidance, they can end isolation after seven days if they have no fever and return consecutive negative lateral flow tests on day six and a second 24 hours later.

Pupils testing positive and who have symptoms of a fever, new continuous cough or loss of taste or smell are to continue to isolate for 10 days and book a PCR test; and parents and carers should inform schools if their child has a positive Covid-19 test. Lateral flow test kits can be picked up at schools, pharmacies and North Lanarkshire’s asymptomatic testing centre at Airdrie leisure centre.

A council spokesperson said: “Covid-19 is very much still with us and testing remains a crucial way of reducing the risk of transmitting the virus in schools; testing regularly helps to reduce the chance of both pupils and staff having to self-isolate.

“Our schools and early learning establishments will all continue to implement the recommended health and safety measures and increase the natural ventilation in classrooms and buildings.”