Everything you want to know about self-tests in education.

Everything you want to know about self-tests in education.

At the last press conference on 26 November, it was decided to extend the existing measures in education. For all secondary school pupils and pupils in groups 6, 7 and 8 of primary school, the advice is to test preventively twice a week. These self-tests are available at school. Mainly to ensure safety and prevent coronavirus infections. The advice is to do this self-test twice a week. Use is always voluntary.

Go directly to our frequently asked questions about self-tests.

Goal

The goal of self-tests is to detect unnoticed coronavirus infections as soon as possible and so limit the spread of the coronavirus at school. Self-tests are meant for (still) non-immune people without corona symptoms. Participation in self-tests is always voluntary.

Corona-related symptoms

Self-tests are also suitable for people with corona-related symptoms. The OMT advised this based on recent scientific research. Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) Hugo de Jonge follows this advice. People with corona-related symptoms can now take a self-test or go to the GGD. A GGD test is always needed after a positive self-test. With this advice, it is expected that more people will test themselves when they have symptoms.

The self-test cannot be used to end quarantine (after close contact, BCO, or travel area) and is not suitable for people with a vulnerable health.

Self-tests in primary and secondary education

For pupils in groups 6, 7 and 8 in primary education and special primary education, and all pupils in secondary education, the following advice applies: do a preventive self-test at home twice a week, if necessary with the help of parents or other caregivers. If the test is positive, the pupil and the rest of the household go into quarantine and get tested at the GGD test location. This urgent test advice applies to everyone, including vaccinated people. The self-tests are given to take home; no self-tests will be taken by school from pupils.

For pupils from groups 6, 7 and 8 and their parents/caregivers, this will take some getting used to. In most cases, the parents/caregivers will do the test for their child; some children will be able to do it themselves after a few times under supervision. Use is always voluntary.

Mbo

Students at mbo also use self-tests. The advice for students remains to use them preventively. Use is always voluntary.

Preventive testing for caution and safety

To start with, self-tests are meant for preventive use. Infection among pupils or staff can be detected quickly and the spread of the coronavirus can be prevented. The self-test is an extra tool to increase safety at and around school so that education can continue.

Specifically for secondary special education and the practical education track

In secondary special education and the practical education track, some pupils need help to do the test well. School management can then choose from several scenarios. All vso and pro schools have received information about this from the ministry by letter.

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