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Secondary school students and staff will be able to register online to receive kits of 25 lateral flow tests from tomorrow.
The covid tests, which are being given out before the start of term on 7 September, are intended for use twice a week at home over the next 12 weeks.
They deliver results within 30 minutes.
Once registered online, students and staff will be able to collect the tests from Parish Halls in St. Brelade, St. Clement, St. Helier, Grouville, St. Lawrence, St. John and St. Ouen, as well as the CYPES reception desk at Highlands.
A Government spokesperson confirmed today that the kits available in the island were as efficient as those available in the UK after Alex Khaldi, the Interim Director of Public Health Policy, told the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) in June that the island did not have the "right tests".
“Mr Khaldi’s comment was made early on in this thinking, based on preliminary information that was available at the time," a spokesperson explained. "The Department for Health and Social Care confirmed that the only difference between the LFT kits that are being used in Jersey and the home-use kits that are distributed in the UK, is the level of detail in the manufacturer’s instructions.
"There is no difference between the effectiveness of the tests. Following consultation with Dr Muscat, endorsement was provided to use the current LFT kits accompanied by suitable instructions for home use.”.
Video: How lateral flow tests work.
From Monday 6 September, the kits will be available to collect from schools.
Deputy Medical Officer of Health Dr Ivan Muscat MBE explained: “Around one in three people with covid-19 do not experience any symptoms and may be spreading the virus inadvertently. Lateral Flow Tests detect cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately.
“By making self-testing at home available to all secondary schools and staff, more cases will be detected, breaking chains of transmission and preventing individual cases from becoming outbreaks.”
He went on to urge young people to take the opportunity to get vaccinated against covid.
“Over a third of 16- and 17-year-olds have now received their vaccine, which is excellent news. Vaccination is our single most important defence against covid and will help maintain normal day-to-day activity.”
The offering of lateral flow tests is part of the Government’s ‘Back to School’ strategy, which is aiming to keep covid-related disruption to a minimum throughout the autumn and winter terms.
“It is vital that we do everything possible for children and young people to attend school,” said Education Minister Deputy Scott Wickenden.
“This includes offering all staff PCR testing and all secondary students a Lateral Flow Tests before school starts, keeping classroom bubbles, asking all staff and secondary students to continue to wear masks in corridors and issuing reminders to ensure good personal and environmental hygiene.”
Deputy Wickenden previously told Express that an app enabling students to record and keep track of their lateral flow test results throughout term was under development and should be ready by the start of the new term.
Express has asked for an update on the app's progress and is awaiting a reply.
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