Contradictory advice from DfE - anyone understand?

[Wigeon]

I’ve just read this blog post from DfE about what the latest government announcements mean for schools but it seems to say two contradictory things in relation to secondary schools.

First it says:

“Of course, it is still necessary to be careful and that’s why it remains essential that secondary pupils, teachers, staff and their families continue to test themselves for the virus and isolate if positive or if they have been in close contact with a positive case – but we will be able to see the back of the wholesale isolation of groups of pupils from 16 August in time for the autumn term.”

Then it says later in the same doc:

“What if there is a positive case in a secondary school or college?

From 16 August, children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test & Trace as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. Instead, children will be contacted by NHS Test & Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test.”

So one is saying close contacts of a Covid case in a secondary school WILL have to isolate, and the other says they WON’T, they’ll just have to take a PCR.

Anyone know what the actual position is?!

The first says that bubbles are going, but not until 16 August

The second describes the situation after 16 August

They don't seem contradictory to me. They are describing different policies at different times

The first is this side of 16th August. The sexons is after 16th August. Makes complete sense. Where do you see a contradiction ?

I also think the DfE advice is contradictory, but a different bit! On one hand, it says that close contacts even of positive cases no longer need to isolate. However, it goes on to say that if any pupil has a positive test or has Covid symptoms 'however mild', then they 'and members of their household' should stay at home. Huh?

Any idea why they have fixed on 16th August?

The first situation refers to before August 16th; the second, after.

So it's essential to isolate if you are a close contact but only until 16th August. What's so special about that date?

As I understand it, from August 16th:
Anyone with symptoms (and presumably their family) stays home and tests
If they test positive, then any close contacts who are under 18 or have been double jabbed only stay home until they have taken a PCR test and had a negative

No @zoeydollie I don't think that's right. My interpretation is that if you're a close contact of a positive case you'll be advised to take a PCR, but it will be advisory only and you won't need to isolate while waiting for a test. Which is why it seems so crazy that a whole household will still need to isolate if one member has a mild cough (which is probably just a cold) until the PCR comes back negative. This will mean there's still loads of disruption with whole families being hoiked out of school and work for 48 hours because little Billy's coughed a couple of times at school.

"If they test positive, then any close contacts who are under 18 or have been double jabbed only stay home until they have taken a PCR test and had a negative"

I don't think there is a requirement for close contacts to stay home and the PCR test is advised not compulsory.

If it needs to be a home test it could easily be 4 days waiting - ds can only test that way. If it was have to self isolate till test result for contact, we would be not much better off than we are now.

Ah thank you all, didn’t clock that some of the advice was pre 16 Aug and some post.

@herecomesthsun

Any idea why they have fixed on 16th August?

It's around the time that Scottish schools go back.

Not sure if it's coincidence or not but it may be to try and bring it in across UK at same time.

@herecomesthsun

Any idea why they have fixed on 16th August?

Leicestershire schools and possibly some other LAs in the Midlands go back in August. 16th means that it will start before the beginning of Autumn Term in all English schools.

The date is arbitrary