Lateral flow consent

[Perfect28]

I'm really concerned that these innacurrate tests will override the need to self isolate. I have to tick a box to confirm that if a close contact to me tests positive I will continue to go into work and have a test every day for 10 days. Previously we were told the chances of catching it from someone you live with if they are positive are almost 100%. Now I'm being told that even if husband was positive I should attend work until I also test positive? Surely this will just make the whole situation worse?

If your employer is telling you this they are wrong. If they insist you work during a period when you are supposed to be self isolating they are committing an offence under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020.

There is no insistence, everyone still has the option to refuse testing and stick with the traditional isolation. I still believe it's incredibly dangerous but never mind, schools are now closed and this testing won't be going ahead. (It would never have worked anyway, at least this way they don't have to admit so).

Who is telling you this?

They should not even be giving people the option. The regulations are that an employer must not knowingly allow an employee who is supposed to be self-isolating to leave home for work. Even offering people the option to go to work after testing in this way is a clear breach of the regulations and they could be fined for it.

The lateral flow testing is supposed to remove the need for self isolation (I don’t agree with this at all due their inaccuracy), but you can refuse consent and stick with the self isolation route should you be a close contact.

due to their inaccuracy

This is government mandated. I work in a school, I asked for clarification and yes this is the case. The whole point is that they wanted to reduce staff and student absence. I agree, it seems to fly in the face of the law, safety and common sense.

I also work in a school and the DfE training I have just been on seemed to say that the tests would be used when your positive close contact is a colleague or student.

In any case you are allowed to simply not consent.

They also said that schools would not be obliged to take up the testing but that they would expect that most would want to. Made me think of Dolores Umbridge.

@Perfect28

This is government mandated. I work in a school, I asked for clarification and yes this is the case. The whole point is that they wanted to reduce staff and student absence. I agree, it seems to fly in the face of the law, safety and common sense.

Where is this government mandate coming from? Do you have a link? The government's website still says staff and students must continue to self-isolate after a negative test if they have been in close contact with a confirmed positive case, or have been told to isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

It isn’t mandated.

If schools take on board the whole package then the serial lateral flow testing is used to keep close contacts of school setting positive covid cases in school - if the students or members of staff have consented that is. Those who have not consented go home to isolate as normal.

Schools don’t have to subscribe to any of it if they don’t want to however, though how that will have been worded I don’t know. There is also some funding that comes with the testing.

Folks, my second post said it wasn't mandatory and that you could refuse consent. Mandated isn't the same thing as mandatory. Here's the link to the handbook, hope it works : schoolsweek.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Schools_Colleges_Testing-Handbook_version-3.3-Copy.pdf?_gl=11exnt4m_ga*YW1wLXZfOW5jSjRGUUpyZHdaVUhRbTVwUmZIXzRYWU8yX0swSGRoYmkwQ3pOdFNvQWZEQ2lhX1hsQ0M3SVA5eEl1cU8.

Nope. Google schools and colleges national testing programme handbook.

I attended the DfE webinar this morning ("Clinical aspects and recording results"). The OP has not misunderstood. In schools, close contacts will be asked to have daily lateral flow tests for 7 days instead of self-isolating for ten days. It's called serial contact testing.