Covid cases are spiking once again, leading to pupil and staff absences across the region. The surge in cases is happening across the UK, with cases in Greater Manchester on the up among all age groups.
It's become particularly apparent in schools, where outbreaks are affecting both children and teachers. With routine testing no longer taking place amid the 'living with Covid' mantra, it's left parents wondering what the rules are and what action they need to take.
The official line from the Department for Education is that anyone aged 18 and under who tests positive for Covid is 'advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days, which is when they are most infectious'. For over 18s it is five days.
Read more: Should free lateral flow testing be made available?
But some schools are issuing their own guidance to parents, with some asking positive pupils to stay off longer. The fact that tests are no longer free is an added concern for schools and families, particularly with many already struggling to make ends meet amid the cost of living crisis.
For the most part they now need to be purchased either online or at a pharmacy, with only those who meet certain criteria able to get them free of charge. Single tests can be bought for around £2 each, with packs of 10 on sale for around £17.
While encouraging children from the age of five to take up the offer of a vaccine, the DfE says schools and colleges should have measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid, such as 'ensuring occupied spaces are well-ventilated and let fresh air in' and 'reinforcing good hygiene practices such as hand washing and cleaning'.
The DfE says last year it distributed more than 386,000 CO2 monitors and more than 8,000 air cleaning units to eligible settings.
But many schools were told they had to buy them via an online 'marketplace' and criticised the move saying settings should not be expected to fund them when 'budgets are already extremely pinched'.
Has there been cases at your child's school this term? How long are pupils being asked to stay off for? Do you think tests should be free? Let us know your views in the comments here.
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