Secondary schools across West Yorkshire prepare for mass coronavirus testing

Primary schools are welcoming kids back today though

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 4th Jan 2021

There are hopes mass coronavirus testing in schools in West Yorkshire will mean less staff sickness.

Primaries are opening their doors again today, while high schools and colleges will have staggered starts because of a rise in covid-19 cases.

Boris Johnson yesterday dismissed calls from unions to keep schools shut insisting it's perfectly safe for younger pupils to return.

The army's being drafted in to help with the testing of older kids - Lynn James is the Executive Head at Outwood Academy in Normanton;

"There will be challenges with this, because it does have to be staffed and correct information needs to be given, but I think we'll overcome that because of what this brings to schools.

"This testing isn't just about schools. It's also allowing good testing systems to operate in communities, because if there's asymptomatic transmission in young people, then that doesn't stay in schools-it goes back into homes, back into communities and back into work places.

"I've had some days in some schools where we've had 40 staff who've been off. Some through positive testing, and others through the track and trace system. I believe mass testing well help to reduce that."

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