By KLTV Newsdesk –
Following on from the increase in testing that started yesterday (26 May), four local schools in Kirklees will be asking children and parents to get PCR tested for Covid-19.
All pupils, and everyone they live with (over the age of 11), will be asked to take a PCR test if they go to any of the following local schools that have seen an increasing number of cases recently.
The four schools in question are:
- Salendine Nook High School, Huddersfield.
- Spen Valley High School, Liversedge.
- St. John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy, Dewsbury.
- Royd’s Hall Community School, Huddersfield.
Increased Testing
The increase in testing and vaccines comes as infection rates rise in Kirklees and cases of the variant first detected in India have been identified locally.
Starring yesterday, staff from Kirklees Council staff and mobile testing units were out in four locations in Kirklees where infections are at their highest.
With high rates of infection in children and young people, the council is now asking pupils – and everyone they live with – to take a test.
PCR tests will be provided for all children and family members by the council.
The aim is to obtain more data to track variants as well as allowing positive cases to be isolated.
Tests will be handed out to children and parents and will be returned to the school the following day.
Beyond this, the council is still encouraging all residents to continue to take a twice-weekly lateral flow Covid-19 test.
Details on how to get a lateral flow testing kit can be found here.
‘More Insight’
Kirklees Director of Public Health, Rachel Spencer-Henshall, said: “Testing is a really important way of reducing infection rates. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen rates of infection increasing in younger age groups.
“In particular, these four schools have reported higher levels of Covid-19 cases so we want to offer all pupils, staff and their households PCR testing which will give us more insight into what’s driving the increase and prevent further spread.
“We’ll continue to monitor the data and may introduce surge testing to other schools if necessary.”
Ms Spencer-Henshall thanked the staff of the schools for helping deliver the testing and continuing the work they’ve done throughout the pandemic.
She said: “The support of our schools and their staff has been a fundamental part of our fight against this pandemic and they continue to deliver everything asked of them.
“It’s still crucial that all school pupils, and everyone else in Kirklees, continue to take a lateral flow test twice a week to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.”