Important Update - On Site Covid-19 Testing Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 October 2021
Tue 19 Oct 2021
School based Mobile PCR Testing Unit
This is an important message to advise that a mobile PCR testing unit will be at school from 9.00am until 3.30pm on Wednesday 20 October, returning at the same time on Thursday this week.
We have communicated with regional Public Health colleagues to discuss an increased number of Covid-19 positive cases, over the past week.
The Public Health team continues to be happy with the systems and control measures we have in the Academy, in order to protect students and staff. The move to host a Mobile Testing Unit on site is to provide additional support and reassurance to our community.
We are encouraging students to come forward for a PCR test, whether they have Covid-19 symptoms or not. Only students who have tested positive in the past 90 days should not take part.
This testing, arranged through NHS Test and Trace with the support of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, will help us understand more about the spread of infection. Importantly, it will also help us keep people safe by identifying those who need to isolate.
Our responsible approach to Covid-19 has always been one of caution and we are taking this step with the safety of students, staff and the wider community in mind. The school follows all guidance set out by the Department for Education and Public Health England and already has a number of measures in place to keep people safe such as ventilation - opening windows and doors, encouraging hand washing and use of hand sanitiser, thorough cleaning procedures and encouraging twice weekly student testing.
A number of local schools have been through the same process as part of local efforts to control the virus. The infection rate in Redcar and Cleveland is high with the current rate in Marske at 598.7 per 100,000 as of Tuesday 19 October 2021. Your cooperation with this round of testing will help us break the chains of transmission and protect the whole community.
How testing will work
Students will be taken down for testing in classes and by year groups from period 1 each day. The mobile testing unit will work through as many tests as they can each day.
Students will have their PCR test and be given a registration card to take to a member of staff to complete the online registration.
Consent
If you would like your child to be tested and have previously given consent for in school testing, you do not need to complete the form linked below (which will also be sent out via text message).
If you have not given consent previously, for example, your child is new to the academy or you did not wish to previously, and would now like to give consent, please complete the below form:
OABy Student COVID-19 On site Testing Consent Form - October2021
Please be aware the consent form will close at 6am on Wednesday 20 October.
If you do not consent to on site testing for your child, we would encourage you to access home testing kits at a community venue or pharmacy to enable them to test at home this week and prior to the return to the academy on Monday 1 November.
Should you or your child not consent they will not be given a test and should you wish to withdraw consent at anytime you can do so by contacting the academy.
Lateral flow device testing
The PCR testing at school is in direct response to the recent increase in cases. I would like to take this opportunity to again request that all students and their parents/carers also continue to take part in regular lateral flow testing.
It is important that all lateral flow tests are reported to the NHS using by visiting https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result and also to school using this link. Twice-weekly testing of people without symptoms can help detect positive cases that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Symptoms
All students and family members should continue to be alert for the main symptoms of Covid-19. Anyone with a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to the sense of smell or taste should self-isolate and book a PCR test by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
Many thanks for your ongoing support during this challenging time.
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