Quarter of covid cases are school children

Friday 25 June 2021

The Government wants to extend rapid covid testing to more children after it emerged one in four of the island’s current covid cases is a school pupil.

There are currently 114 people recorded as having the virus in Jersey, of which 30 are school students.

The latest statistics show that covid-19 transmission is mostly affecting secondary school students, with just two cases in primary schools.

The Government said the 30 cases were confined to a “small number” of secondary schools, and two nurseries. Earlier this week, Victoria College Had Alun Watkins confirmed that the virus had spread within three year groups.

Since Thursday 24 June, 8 individuals have recovered and 24 new cases have been identified. 5 cases have been identified via seeking healthcare, 3 via inbound travel, 1 via admissions screening, 1 via planned workforce screening and 14 cases via contact tracing. pic.twitter.com/O7Z0fLA4ZK

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) June 25, 2021

An urgent meeting with all the island’s headteachers was held this morning to reinforce safety measures, such as continuing to wear masks in areas where physical distancing is not possible. 

Discussion is also ongoing between the heads and the Education and Public Health Departments about extending lateral flow tests, which require parental consent, beyond Years 11 to 13 of secondary school students, as they might detect covid in inidividuals that do not display symptoms.

Around one third of the island’s confirmed cases haven’t shown symptoms.

Pictured: Weekly lateral flow testing is currently offered to teachers and students in Years 11 to 13.

How the rising number of covid cases will affect transition days scheduled for next week is also yet to be decided.

“As a result of vaccination, disease is predominantly in the young and therefore less severe, which significantly reduces the burden of disease. While we expect the numbers to continue to increase among young people, it is important for everybody in the community, not just educational settings, to continue to keep their guard up as we see an increase in covid cases,” said Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat.

Direct contacts that have been fully vaccinated were this week told they could leave isolation after a single negative test. They are being reminded that, if they develop any symptoms, they must return to isolation immediately. 

A new isolation policy for under-18s identified as direct contacts is currently being considered by STAC and an announcement is expected next week.