All 16-18 Year Olds Offered Covid Test

Friday, 27 November 2020 10:08

All 16-18 year olds in Jersey are to be offered a coronavirus test.

The government has announced its inviting all young people in Years 11 and above, as well as teens that age not in education, for Covid-19 screening at their school, college or at the harbour.

It says STAC has advised that age group should be offered the tests as a precautionary measure.

It follows numerous cases in schools that have sent hundreds of young people into self-isolation.

More details are expects to be released to parents in the next week.

"Information will also be available on social media, on the Government of Jersey website and via the Coronavirus helpline (01534 445566) for Islanders in this age group who are not in full-time education."

More than 100 teachers at two school premises were screened last week. All were negative.

"I am pleased to see the positive uptake in teachers participating in the COVID-19 screening in schools. I would like to reassure parents and staff that the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills is working closely with the contact tracing and infection control teams in order to support and protect our children, our staff and our community.

"Regular testing is being offered to all of our teachers and I grateful to the testing teams for offering our teachers and students the opportunity to be tested on the school site.

"I am pleased to see the positive response we received from our older school students in Years 11, 12 and 13 and above wearing masks in the areas of their schools where mixing and social distancing is more difficult to manage.

"The latest medical evidence says that the risk of infection and transmission is greater for older teenagers, than younger children, as recent cases have shown. This latest policy of introducing screening in secondary schools, with mask-wearing in communal areas and on the school bus, as well as face visors for teaching staff is to be welcomed to guarantee the highest form of safety for our school community." - Senator Tracey Vallois, Education Minister.