Please read below an update we have received this week from Essex Local Authority following the latest update to national guidance regarding positive LFD tests.

The requirement for confirmatory PCR tests is to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results. From Tuesday 11 January 2022, in England, people who receive positive lateral flow results for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test. This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID-19 are high, the vast majority of people with positive LFD results can be confident that they have COVID-19.

Anyone who develops one of the three main COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test - these rules have not changed.

Under this new approach, anyone who receives a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result should report their result on Gov.uk and must self-isolate immediately but will not need to take a follow-up PCR test. After reporting a positive LFD test result, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace so that their contacts can be traced and must continue to self-isolate.

In line with the reduced self-isolation approach announced on 22 December, anyone who tests positive will be able to leave self-isolation 7 days after the date of their initial positive test if they receive two negative LFD results, 24 hours apart, on days 6 and 7. The DfE guidance has also been updated in line with the UKHSA announcement, and clarifies that children can return to school after day 7 if they have had two negative LFD tests.

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Can we please ask that in order to protect staff and children that you carry out regular lateral flow tests at home – even if you don’t have any symptoms.  Tests are available online (https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests)

If you or any other family member have any symptoms, the following website may be useful:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Government site with comprehensive Coronavirus information

With the exception of specific Covid-19 precautions, on the whole our advice regarding school attendance hasn’t changed- if children aren’t well enough to come into school they should stay away until well enough to benefit from the day’s teaching and learning.