Adults living with schoolchildren will be eligible for fast-results coronavirus tests when schools return on March 8.
Essex County Council is encouraging adults living with school-age children to access the free home tests to help identify more asymptomatic Covid-19 cases and quickly break chains of transmission before they enter schools and colleges
The Lateral Flow Tests will be available to adults in all households with primary, secondary school and college aged children and young people, including childcare and support bubbles.
Twice-weekly testing will also be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders.
Individuals will only be able to take part if they, their household or bubble do not have coronavirus symptoms or have not been told to self-isolate.
If anyone is showing Covid-19 symptoms, they will need to access a test via the national system.
Cllr Ray Gooding, cabinet member for education, said: “We welcome the latest announcement from the Government around increased and regular testing of families with school-aged children. This will go a long way in allowing pupils to stay in school and reduce the need for whole bubbles to self-isolate.
“We have always been very clear that testing is a vital part of our Covid-19 response in Essex and our priority has always been the education and wellbeing of all children and young people. I would strongly encourage all adults in families with school-aged children to do their bit and help to ensure that once pupils return to the classroom, they can stay there.”
This latest announcement comes in addition to the testing requirements announced by the government for secondary school pupils who will start to return to the classroom.
Primary school children do not need to take part in regular asymptomatic testing.
Dr Mike Gogarty, director for public health at Essex County Council, said: “As many as one in three people testing positive for Covid-19 don’t show symptoms and so this latest announcement is extremely welcome news.
“Regular asymptomatic testing will be vital to the easing of restrictions over the coming months. We need everyone to do their bit and remember, if you test positive, you must self-isolate immediately.”
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