England’s Schools Look to End Isolation Rule as Cases Rise
- Daily contact testing could prevent class ‘bubbles’ going home
- Latest data shows 170,000 students isolating in England
Photographer: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
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British officials are preparing to scrap the 10-day self-isolation requirement for schoolchildren in England who come into contact with a positive case of coronavirus, a policy which is disrupting education and adding to the strain on working parents.
“We are conducting trials of daily contact testing as a possible alternative to self-isolation,” Schools Minister Nick Gibb said on Sky News on Tuesday. An announcement on the change will be made before July 19, he said. Another policy being considered is extending the school-day by half an hour, Gibb said.