THOUSANDS of schoolkids across London, Essex and Kent will be able to get Covid tests from today as part of a rapid drive to try to drive down another wave of the virus.
Pupils in secondary schools in a string of boroughs are being urged to come forward to get tested to stop the spread – as one in three people still have no symptoms at all.
Emergency testing teams will be sent to secondary schools across the South East to swab pupils and their families.
Hundreds of thousands of tests will be available – and will be offered to kids even if they are showing no signs of being ill.
The blitz comes as London faces being plunged into severe Tier 3 restrictions next week unless soaring infection rates are rapidly reduced.
Anyone who tests positive will have to isolate for ten days, and their contacts will have to do the same.
Today it was announced the isolation period for contacts of positive cases will be reduced from from 14 days to ten.
All kids aged 11 – 18 in secondary schools and colleges will be able to access the tests – as well as teachers, staff and their families too.
Cases are rising fast amongst this age group, Matt Hancock and Professor Stephen Powis said last night.
Mr Hancock yesterday vowed to keep England’s schools open.
But Wales has ordered all their secondary schools to close from Monday and for teachers to switch to online lessons.
There are concerns with Christmas coming up soon, when rules will be relaxed, they could spread the virus onto friends and older family members.
Schools and colleges will be provided with information on how to get involved, and parents or carers will be able to apply for tests using the online testing portal.
Children under 16 attending an mobile testing unit need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Everyone over 12 will have to wear a mask when they turn up too.
Mass testing has helped drive down rates of infection in places like Liverpool and Leicester.
