Families with school aged children will soon receive another round of free Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) packs with the Premier announcing today that the covid surveillance program will continue. 

Staff in schools and early childhood settings will also receive an allocation of RAT packs to use when they feel necessary. 

The surveillance program was initially tested for the first four weeks of term but as they further loosen community-based COVID restrictions the state government say they will continue to support face-to-face learning by offering eight RAT kits per student and staff member to use when families consider necessary so they have peace of mind. 

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said over 90 per cent of parents have been using the RATs provided. 

“It is important we help students, staff and families retain their levels of confidence as we get back to a more normal school life,” Ms Mitchell said. 

“We know our measures work; transmission in schools is extremely low, and there have been no school closures since students returned this year, despite the levels of community transmission.  

“Testing children twice a week was not an easy task and I’d like to thank all of the parents and carers for their efforts in these critical first few weeks of term. Additional RAT packs will allow parents to stay vigilant and help us all continue to reduce the impact of COVID on schools.” 

Research conducted by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) showed that in Term 4 2021, three to four per cent of people exposed to a positive case in school and early childhood education settings contracted COVID-19 compared to around 70 per cent in residential settings. 

Premier Dominic Perrottet commended parents, teachers, school administrators and Principals across NSW for their commitment to return children to classrooms from the start of the year. 

“It was vital we got our students back in the classroom after two years of disruption to their education, social lives and well-being, and RATs have played an important part in enabling their safe return,” Mr Perrottet said.  

“We are therefore providing every student and staff member across the state with another eight RATs for them to use at their discretion when they consider necessary, following a four week program of surveillance testing.  

“The packs are there for families and staff to use at their discretion for their own peace of mind, for example, when a student is feeling unwell with a sore throat or cough, or if family members are sick.”