Rhineland-Palatinate is expanding corona tests in schools

Created: 2022-01-25 13:57

A kit for a rapid corona test lies on a student's pencil case.

© Matthias Bein/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa/Symbolbild

In the event of an infection, only students who have tested positive should stay at home.

The day-care centers are now also testing more intensively.

Mainz – In view of the sharp increase in the number of corona infections in Rhineland-Palatinate, regular tests in schools are to be expanded.

The Minister of Education Stefanie Hubig (SPD) said on Tuesday in Mainz that there would also be more testing at the daycare centers.

At schools, the number of random tests should initially be increased from two to three per week by the start of the winter holidays on February 21.

These are mandatory for everyone without immunization, i.e. for everyone who is neither vaccinated nor recovered.

For everyone else they are optional.

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If an infection is reported and a second test is also positive, a ten-day self-isolation will be ordered.

This can be ended after five days with a negative test.

In principle, however, the isolation is limited to the schoolchildren and teachers affected by an infection, said Hubig.

Everyone else in the group has to test themselves five days in a row if they become infected.

By dispensing with the previously costly contact tracing, the school management will be relieved and as much face-to-face teaching as possible will be maintained.

According to the Ministry of Education, at least 80 percent of teachers are fully vaccinated, and almost 60 percent are boosted.

In addition, 20.3 percent of young people between the ages of 12 and 18 have already been vaccinated three times.

The corona tests, which have not yet been mandatory there, are also being increased at the day-care centers.

Of the 61 daycare centers in Mainz, 57 already had a test offer, said the minister.

At their own discretion, the facilities could also use the option to look after the children in “fixed cohorts” in order to limit contacts.

In the event of an infection, isolation is initially planned for everyone.

If the test is negative and there are no symptoms of illness, the daycare center can be visited again the next day.

There is a high vaccination rate among educators - 93 percent are fully vaccinated, 71 percent are also boosted.

dpa