Guidance on Lateral Flow Testing and Self-Isolation

Suspension of confirmatory PCR testing following a positive LFD test

The Government recently announced that confirmatory PCR tests will now not be needed in the case of a positive LFD test. The guidance is as follows:

Confirmatory PCR tests following a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result are to be temporarily suspended from Tuesday 11 January. This will mean that anyone who receives a positive LFD test result will be required to self-isolate immediately and will not be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

All results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

Isolation period for positive cases

The 10-day isolation period can be reduced if you get 2 consecutive negative LFD tests on day 6 and day 7. If this is the case, you may return to work or school on the same day – day 7 – which is the date of your second negative test, provided you feel well enough and do not have a temperature. The guidance on this issue is as follows:

Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education setting from day 7.

Face coverings

Just to remind you that we are continuing to insist that students wear a face covering in all settings, unless they are medically exempt and are wearing a lanyard which indicates exemption.

Lateral Flow Tests

Please continue to test twice a week using a lateral flow test and report all results to NHS Test and Trace and to school. We are expecting a delivery of lateral flow tests in the next few days, but we do have some spares in school. If your child is running low, please ask them to collect a test kit from Student Services.