Further to the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on Thursday 13/01/2022, from Monday 17 January, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, whether via LFD or PCR test, may leave their 10-day period of self-isolation early from 5 days, if they have 2 negative LFD tests over 2 consecutive days, at least 24 hours apart. This means that LFD testing for students who have tested positive with COVID-19 can therefore resume on day 5 of their isolation, in order to leave isolation and return to school on day 6 if day 5 and day 6 tests are negative, and if they do not have a high temperature.
To emphasise, the 2 negative LFD tests to release a student from isolation and allow them to return to school earlier than the full 10-day period must be taken on consecutive days and reported to school. For example, this means that a student who has tested positive for COVID-19 can return to school if they have:
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 5 and morning of day 6 (can return on day 6).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 6 and morning of day 7(can return on day 7).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 7 and morning of day 8 (can return on day 8).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 8 and morning of day 9 (can return on day 9).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 9 and morning of day 10 (can return on day 10).
Also, please remember that students who test positive with an LFD test are no longer required to take a confirmatory PCR test. This means that anyone who receives a positive LFD test result should self-isolate immediately, without the need to have a PCR test to confirm the result. Anyone who has symptoms should continue to self-isolate straight away and arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible.
Students (and adults who are fully vaccinated, i.e., 2 doses) who are contacts of a person who has tested positive, are not legally required to self-isolate (unless they have symptoms). Instead, they are strongly advised to take a rapid LFD test every day for 7 days, or until 10 days since their last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier.
To emphasise, the 2 negative LFD tests to release a student from isolation and allow them to return to school earlier than the full 10-day period must be taken on consecutive days and reported to school. For example, this means that a student who has tested positive for COVID-19 can return to school if they have:
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 5 and morning of day 6 (can return on day 6).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 6 and morning of day 7(can return on day 7).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 7 and morning of day 8 (can return on day 8).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 8 and morning of day 9 (can return on day 9).
A negative LFD test on the morning of day 9 and morning of day 10 (can return on day 10).
Also, please remember that students who test positive with an LFD test are no longer required to take a confirmatory PCR test. This means that anyone who receives a positive LFD test result should self-isolate immediately, without the need to have a PCR test to confirm the result. Anyone who has symptoms should continue to self-isolate straight away and arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible.
Students (and adults who are fully vaccinated, i.e., 2 doses) who are contacts of a person who has tested positive, are not legally required to self-isolate (unless they have symptoms). Instead, they are strongly advised to take a rapid LFD test every day for 7 days, or until 10 days since their last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier.
