This is why your child is not told to self-isolate when a student in their class tests positive for Covid-19

Many parents are, understandably, under the impression that should a child in the same class as their son or daughter test positive for Covid-19 their children will be instructed to self-isolate.

This is not and never has been the protocol,

We contacted the Public Health Agency (PHA) on behalf of parents all over Northern Ireland to see if they could provide some clarity.

“PHA can confirm that there has been no change to protocol concerning individuals coming into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the school setting,” said a PHA spokesperson.

“The school response to a confirmed COVID-19 case in a school community will be tailored to the situation and will vary accordingly following a robust risk assessment with the school principal.

“Measures such as ‘pupil bubbles’ and fixed classroom floor plans will all be part of the assessment.”

In essence the PHA has said schools deal with each positive case of Covid-19 on an individual basis.

There are many different variables that could influence how a school principal might decide on how to manage an outbreak of Covid-19.

Variables include social distancing and the age of the person who has tested positive.

“Close contacts are identified using the close contact definition, and schools are stringent in the application of this,” said the PHA spokesperson.

“If the case is in an older year group, this will often be a sub-set of the class as opposed to the whole class.

“Parents of close contacts of a confirmed case will be notified by the school.

“Schools have been provided with a PHA letter template for this notification.

“Other templates have also been provided if required, to confirm as relevant, that their child is not a close contact, to allay any concerns that may arise on hearing of a confirmed case.”