Thread by @karamballes

1/ Thread: Summary of the Test&Trace Q&A for school leaders.
Friend sent me a link so I could see what they had to say.
Attendance was low, but don't worry you didn't miss much, "more guidence on the way" was a stock answer

2/This meeting covered testing everyone in secondary and colleges in the first week back, the aim is to test everyone twice with LFTs by 11th Jan and then to be set up for daily testing of close contacts to avoid isolation.
"Still working out details" was also a common answer

3/ There was some acknowledgement that LFTs are less reliable, they accepted there could be false positives, "a positive test needs to be confirmed with a PCR, these are the gold standard"
What are LFTs? Silver? Bronze? Scrap metal?

4/So the plan is has a back up to prevent unnecessary isolations from false positives, but completely ignored that there could be false negatives allowing transmission to continue.
My question on reliability of LFTs went unanswered

5/Suitable PPE will be provided, they mentioned aprons, masks and goggles, will be interesting to see how it compares to PPE provided to others conducting testing
Reasonable staffing costs to be reimbursed
Students to test themselves under supervision

6/ There will be a how to video. They then said "We are grateful for you attending, we predict high infection rates particularly in secondary"
Suggested staggered testing for students and that it would be voluntary
Unable to answer more qs they explain "things are moving quickly"

7/ Clinical operational guidence used with Unis not available to schools and colleges yet
All schools with 11+ students can mass test, special schools, PRU, middle schools etc
Mass testing will move to primary later perhaps spring

8/ "This will be provided later" They answer to more questions mentioning how simple the pilots found it
Estimate a test takes 5mins with a 30min wait for results
Participation by schools and colleges is voluntary
DBS checks not needed for extra staff if supervised

9/ Personal data needs to be processed
Space guidence to come later "Requirements are low, indoor fixed seperate area with ventilator where social distancing can be maintained'
Will be support for set up
Testinf Bay 1m, with 2m spacing around it

10/ Interesting quote here about them adapting the Uni guidence

"University was a gold standard of bays, secondary schools will have something more appropriate to manage flow of students"

Can't help but feel that sounds like a compromise on safety

11/ Students don't need testing if they have had a positive PCR test within 90 days as they will have immunity

Quite suprised by this rule, I thought understanding of immunity is still limited?

Testing agents need storing at 15-30

12/12 Optional inset days is offered to train for testing

This is a summary of all the details we got, not much really but they finished with

"Don't do anything until January"

Considering the logistics required, should make January very interesting if they go ahead with this