Health team at B&NES urge secondary children to keep coronavirus testing twice a week

The health team at B&NES have today (June 30) urged secondary school and college students to keep regular coronavirus testing, twice a week.

It comes as locally, along with much of England, there is a surge in positive coronavirus cases across schools.

Nub News understands that several year groups in Norton Hill are, or were out, due to a pupil testing positive. There have also been positive tests in the schools in Frome.

According to news reports, from a leaked letter from the Department of Education schools have been told to prepare for the return of on-site coronavirus testing from the start of the autumn term.

Schools minister Nick Gibb states the government wants schools to "be prepared for all scenarios, including testing on return after the summer holidays."

According to the BBC an estimated 375,000 pupils in England were out of school for Covid-related reasons in the week to 24 June - only 15,000 of whom were confirmed cases.

Locally in B&NES the health team have urged school children : " Don't forget to report, no matter the result."

Earlier this week Nub News interviewed the director of public health for B&NES Becky Reynolds, about the cases in Norton Hill. She would not comment on individual schools but told us she was aware of the problem. She told us: " The thing about the Delta variant is that is so much more transmissible. And so we know that young people in schools and outside in the community, where they mix, are able to spread it very easily.

" But all of our schools, particularly our secondary schools are working hard to control these outbreaks. They are quick to contact the public health team and we are working together to reduce spread as much as possible."