Positive cases, testing and contact tracing
Following the initial on-site testing, Secondary settings will continue to issue staff and pupils with LFTs for twice weekly testing. Primary settings will also issue LFTs to staff for twice weekly testing, and we will continue to encourage all primary-age pupils to continue to test on a regular basis. As there will no longer be isolation for doubly vaccinated close contacts and those under 18 years and 6 months, this will be a key mitigation to try and avoid bringing the infection into schools, and we will continue to work with schools to reinforce this with parents and the wider school community.
Warwickshire Public Health will continue to work with settings to reinforce this with parents and the wider community. Please see below for further guidance on what to do when you have a case.
What should settings do when they have a positive case?
- Settings should ensure that they are aware of and log all children and staff in the setting who have tested positive for COVID-19
- This should include dates for onset of symptoms (if relevant) and test dates
- Be aware of any links and exposures inside or outside of the setting.
NHS Test and Trace should have been in contact with the positive case to ascertain some of the known close contacts and recommended any contacts to get a PCR test.
Should settings notify parents?
We would advise that in these scenarios you notify parents that there is a positive case, and recommend that children get a PCR test, and undertake twice weekly LFT testing (LFT testing for children if acceptable to parents).
Should settings identify close contacts?
If you have continued with some local measures and mitigations (such as consistent groupings or zoning) you should be able to identify potential contacts easily.
If not then we would suggest as a minimum you ask all class contacts that the case may have had in their infectious period (2 clear days prior to day of symptoms onset/test - if no symptoms - through to 10 days afterwards), alongside any other close contacts the child has had (break times, lunch times, before and after school (including transport) to go for a PCR test, and it is recommended identified close contacts take daily LFTs for 7 days (this may need to extend if transmission continues).
For early years settings we are recommending a PCR test for close contacts as well as regular LFT testing (if acceptable to parents). If daily LFT testing is not possible for some special school cohorts we would advise as a minimum a PCR test and any additional LFT testing that they can undertake. Please let the LA know about potential transport contacts.
Multiple cases
If there is more than one case in the same class/group in a short time period, it may be recommended that parents/staff are notified and an additional PCR test recommended 4-7 days after that notification, alongside continuing with regular LFT tests. Further actions may also be recommended by the LA.
This approach is intended to complement the work of NHS Test and Trace who will talk to cases (or their parents) directly about any close contacts they know about in the setting.
Please note that the above local recommendations will be kept under review in the light of changing national/regional guidance and direction.
