DAILY testing is being introduced for secondary school pupils in Cheshire West when someone in their household tests positive for Covid-19.

This will also be recommended to parents and carers of primary school children following updated advice from the Government.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s public health team has made the recommendations to schools in the light of the national guidance and rising Covid-19 infection rates.

The council is also re-enforcing its advice to residents to persevere with measures such as face coverings, social distancing, handwashing, socialising outside, or inside with good ventilation, regular testing and getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

If one individual in a household tests positive, any children and young people in that household who attend secondary school or college should:

• Take a laboratory-processed PCR test (ideally between three to five days after first exposure),

• take a daily Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test for 10 consecutive days from the date of first exposure,

• continue to attend school provided that their test results (PCR and LFD) are negative,

• self-isolate for 10 full days from the date of the test if any of their test results are positive,

• in the event of a positive LFD test result, obtain a confirmatory PCR test,

• if the confirmatory PCR test is taken within the two days following the positive LFD result and the PCR result is negative, the young person can return to school/college.

Parents and carers of primary aged children are also being encouraged to follow the guidance.

Ian Ashworth, director of public health at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: "Without any doubt, the vaccine programme has made a huge difference in terms of reducing the chance of people becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 – it is our best defence against the virus.

"That has been shown through the incredible take up of the vaccine by the residents of west Cheshire.

"Our businesses, education and health and care settings have also seen significant disruption and challenges because of the continued rise in cases and outbreaks, so we can all do our bit to help prevent that."