Question reference: S5W-35218
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 15 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the COVID-19 testing for school staff and senior pupils will cover early years' staff, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
On the 2 February, the First Minister confirmed that the Scottish Government will introduce a routine testing programme for schools and childcare staff. This includes all Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and School-aged Childcare (SAC) staff.
The safety of children and childcare staff is a priority for the Scottish Government and, although the evidence continues to show that childcare settings are low risk environments, we understand the importance of offering staff and families as much reassurance as possible. Therefore, alongside the safety measures and mitigations settings are putting in place the regular testing of staff will help to further reduce risks in school, ELC and SAC environments. It will do so by helping to identify asymptomatic individuals in settings at the earliest possible opportunity, and asking them and their close contacts to self-isolate, thus minimising the likelihood of them passing on the virus.