SECONDARY pupils are being urged to take at home Covid-19 tests before returning to school to limit the spread of the virus. 

Pupils in North Lanarkshire are being asked to do a lateral flow device (LFD) test on the evening of Sunday, January 9 or the morning of Monday, January 10 as they return to the classroom. 

After that, testing should be done twice a week, with all test results being recorded via the online portal, whether they are negative, positive or void. 

Any pupil who tests positive should then isolate for 10 days, but following new government guidance can end isolation after seven days if they have no fever and they return two consecutive negative LFD tests, one on day six and the other 24 hours later.

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A parent or carer should inform the school if their child tests positive for Covid-19. 

Staff in school and early learning and childcare settings are also being asked to follow the same advice.

Cllr Frank McNally, convener for education and families said: "We have had huge support from communities across North Lanarkshire during these challenging times and are doing all we can to ensure the impact the pandemic is having on our day-to-day lives is kept to an absolute minimum.

"The best way to avoid further disruption to our children’s education is through regular testing."

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Derek Brown, executive director of education and families, added: "We are extremely grateful for the support we’ve had from pupils, parents/carers and staff throughout the pandemic.

"However, to keep disruption in our schools and education centres to a minimum it’s essential that secondary pupils and all staff continue to test regularly to help prevent outbreaks of the virus.

"It’s also important that all results are reported online whether positive, negative or void."