Updated government guidance has confirmed that children with covid can return to school after three days.
Previously, kids who tested positive for the virus had to remain at home for five days. However, the latest rule change comes amid concerns that pupils are missing too much school time as a result of covid and they can now go back to their classrooms after a shorter time period.
The changes come about as a part of the government's Living With Covid plans. The Department for Education (DfE) state that the updated guidance will "balance the risk of transmission with continued disruption to education".
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The guidance stated: "Following expert advice, we now know that covid presents a low risk of serious illness to most children and young people, and most of those who are fully vaccinated. Due to high immunity in society, a greater understanding of the virus and improved access to treatments, we can now focus on how we live with covid."
A UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) spokesman said: "There is some evidence that children have a shorter duration of illness compared to adults. And this guidance balances the risk of transmission with continued disruption to education."
Adults with covid remain advised to self-isolate for five days, due to greater transmissibility, although this is not a legal requirement. As from April 1, routine testing was scrapped and no longer expected in all education and children's social care settings. Despite the non-requirement for testing in all schools, the DfE stated it expects pupils and staff in education settings to routinely test themselves for covid.
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