Government will pilot rapid Covid-19 testing in schools

The government’s COVID Winter Plan has been published, setting out the end of national restrictions on 2 December, and the "strengthened" tiered system that will come into effect.

Schools will remain open and the Department for Education will update its guidance in the coming days to reflect how settings should operate under the strengthened tier system.

The plan says that the schools and colleges will have access to COVID-19 tests, with every school provided with an allocation of tests for those staff and students that are not able to access testing via other routes.

It also says the Government will continue piloting further rapid testing in schools.

The plan says that nurseries, schools and colleges should not change their Christmas holidays or close early this term. Parents should continue to send their children to school during term time and students should continue to attend college right up until the end of term.

The plan seeks to bring R below 1, find new ways of managing the virus and enabling life to return closer to normal, and minimise damage to the economy and society.

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