Secondary pupils and staff have urged to restart at-home testing this week in an attempt they try to avoid a chaotic start to the new term.
The Scottish Government has contacted all local councils ahead of the new academic year as they encourage care givers to act now as part of coronavirus protection meaures.
Those in schools have been asked to take a test on the morning of, or evening before, their return, and to test regularly thereafter.
It's hoped this will hels public health experts understand where covid-19 levels are rising and can inform the national policy on coronavirus protection measures in schools.
Secondary pupils will continue wearing masks in class for the first six weeks of the new term - but close contacts of those with Covid will no longer be required to self-isolate, provided they have a negative PCR test result.
Councils have also been informed about a new test called the ACON Flowflex Self-Test kit, which only requires a nose-only swab that will show results at 15 minutes, helping to simplify and speed up the process for user.
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:“I would encourage all secondary pupils and school staff to take an at-home test just before returning to school, and regularly thereafter.
"This is an important step in our efforts to tackle the spread of COVID-19. Please also record all your results - whether positive, negative or void.
“User feedback has informed the development of the testing programme. Consequently, from the start of term, after schools and ELC settings have used up their current stocks, they will be able to place orders for easier-to-use testing kits that deliver results faster.”
Kits are available to staff and secondary pupils from schools during term time. If staff or secondary pupils have not been provided with test kits by schools in advance of the term, they can order lateral flow test kits online:https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covid-symptoms/
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