Due to the increased accessibility of Lateral Flow Device Tests through secondary schools and places of work, Public Health Gateshead have sent the following message with school to share with families.
Lateral flow device testing is a fast and simple way to test people who do not have symptoms of coronavirus, but who may still be spreading the virus.
Lateral flow tests should not be used by anyone who has coronavirus symptoms.
If anyone in your household has coronavirus symptoms they should Get a test to check if you have coronavirus on GOV.UK or by ringing 119.
If you have been advised by your child’s school or childcare setting that your child has been identified as a close contact of a positive coronavirus case they must isolate for 10 days, and you must follow the advice given by the school or childcare setting.
If your child is isolating because they have been identified as a close contact of someone with coronavirus they cannot return to the school or childcare setting before the end of the 10 day isolation period even if they have a negative test result (either PCR or lateral flow).
Lateral flow test kits should only be used by the person they were issued to. If you have a child in secondary school who is testing themselves at home the tests must not be used by anyone else in the household e.g. a sibling or parent.
Similarly, if you have access to lateral flow tests through your workplace you should not use these to test your children at home.
Public Health Team
Gateshead Council
3 March 2021
