As children across North Wales return to the classroom today following the half-term break, Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is urging secondary school and college students to ensure they continue taking their twice weekly coronavirus lateral flow tests.
Regular rapid testing twice a week remains the best way to find asymptomatic cases of Covid-19.
James is therefore appealing to all eligible students to ensure they remember to take the tests.
He said:
“Rapid testing continues to help find the one in three people with Covid-19 who show no symptoms, allowing them to isolate rather than unknowingly spread the virus. This can help prevent outbreaks from taking hold, particularly among those who have not been vaccinated or for whom the vaccine has not been fully effective.
“While we all hope we are on the home straight as far as the pandemic is concerned, new variants pose a potential risk to our health and to our freedoms. Following the half term, where children have had holidays and days out to other parts of the UK, and some even abroad, it is more important than ever that all eligible children in the Vale of Clwyd continue testing twice weekly to keep their friends and families safe.”
He added:
“I would also encourage parents to check with their children that they are taking the tests. With the busy lives young people lead, and an awareness that the virus is unlikely to pose a threat to themselves, it can be easy to forget to undertake testing, but it is crucial that we keep on top of this. We must all do our bit to keep our schools and wider communities safe, particularly as we navigate these choppy waters.
“Secondary schools and colleges across the Vale of Clwyd continue to provide packs of tests to their students free of charge so they can take two tests a week. If children have run out, it is essential that they let their teachers know.”
Positive cases identified by rapid testing are confirmed with a PCR test, meaning nobody has to worry about isolating unnecessarily following a positive rapid test result.
