An announcement stating that the test to stay measure in primary schools starts next Monday, January 24, was issued by the Ministry of Health.
Read the announcement as it is:
In the context of the efforts of the Ministry of Health to keep the schools safe and in operation without depriving the students of the basic right to education, following a unanimous decision of the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee, from Monday, January 24, 2022, the measure “test to stay ”in Primary and Secondary education.
The supplementary measure is addressed only to students who will be in close contact with a confirmed positive COVID-19 incident reported within the school, as defined by the health protocol governing the school units (two meters away from all directions of the positive incident, inside the classroom, during breaks, during sports and when transported by private vehicle).
· The observance of the above measure is an optional choice for students AND has no retroactive effect. Therefore, the measure does not apply to students who are in a state of self-restraint as close contacts.
What about close contacts who have no history of vaccination or have received at least one vaccine dose, or have completed their vaccination schedule and the 7-month period has passed, or have become ill and the 90-day period has elapsed?
They will have the option of either being confined for 10 days as provided in the relevant protocol and released on the 7th day if they present a negative PCR test at their own expense, or attend school and undergo a rapid antigen test (Rapid test) daily for for a period of 6 consecutive days after contact (excluding holidays and weekends). Regarding the test with molecular PCR
Day 7 as provided by the close contact management protocol, the Ministry of Health is considering the possibility of replacing the PCR test on day 7 with a Rapid test)
· This measure concerns only the opening hours of the school units and after the departure of the close contacts from the schools, they should be self-restrained, as they continue to be considered close contacts and will not be able to take part in other afternoon activities, (such as tutoring, sports, etc.)
· These people should avoid being transported by public transport and go to school by private vehicle.
What about close contacts who have completed their vaccination program and have not had a 7-month period or have a disease certificate and have not had a 90-day period?
· According to the protocol, they are not obliged to limit themselves, however, they will undergo a rapid antigen test (Rapid test) daily for the period of 6 consecutive days after contact (excluding holidays and weekends).
The procedure to be followed is as follows:
· The mobile units of the Ministry of Health will visit the school units in which positive COVID-19 cases were detected the previous day and the close contacts will be subjected to a rapid antigen test (Rapid test).
· Rapid test will be performed between 7:30 am – 9:00 am and students will enter their classrooms after the result is issued. The absence of students from the classroom during the laboratory testing process will be justified.
· In case of a positive incident, the usual procedures will be followed by the school management.
· The “test to stay” measure will be implemented on a pilot basis and variations may occur depending on the epidemiological picture.
