Covid NSW: Students could undergo rapid antigen tests before school

Students may have to take rapid antigen Covid tests before they are allowed on school grounds under a plan being looked at by the education and health departments.

Children could be required to take a rapid antigen test before entering school under a plan being considered by education and health authorities.

However, whether the test would need to be undertaken at home or at the school gates is yet to be determined with the Education Department confirming it was “exploring” with NSW Health how the test might be used.

Unlike polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests used at public testing centres, rapid antigen tests are cheaper and can be used at any time, with the results available in minutes.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved several different types of rapid antigen tests to be used in health care, aged care, schools and workplace settings.

On Wednesday, the TGA approved another three tests for home use from November 1, enabling parents to undertake tests.

Rapid antigen testing could be introduced to schools.

Many school overseas are requiring students to undergo a rapid antigen test at the school gate to determine if they have Covid, while several pilot programs are underway in NSW independent schools.

In a newsletter delivered to schools to distribute to parents, the department confirmed the use of home testing kits was being “explored”.

“We are exploring with NSW Health the use of Covid home testing kits (known as rapid antigen testing) as a further screening measure to reduce the risk of outbreaks in schools, or the length of time students need to isolate after contact with someone with Covid,” the newsletter said.

“Further details will be provided in Term 4.”

Students are set to return to face-to-face learning with NSW Health-approved settings on October 18 for department preschools, kindergarten and year 1, with other year groups heading back October 25.

While the department is yet to decide on how it may use rapid antigen testing, hundreds of private companies across the state are mandating it for their staff.

Gardian Technologies was among the first in Australia to supply Therapeutic Goods Administration-approved rapid antigen tests and test-tracker software that enables companies to capture consent, input results and send necessary alerts.

Co-founder Graham Gordon said he had supplied about 150 businesses with his products with the first being Greyhound Racing NSW. He said he had also been approached by private and Catholic schools.

Others using the three-minute tests include Meriton, Dulux, Goodman Fielder, Warner Bros and media and entertainment company Endemol Shine Australia.

“If you come back positive, you get a text from us while the CEO rep of the company gets an email saying: ‘Graham has tested positive, send him for a PCR test’,” Mr Gordon said.

“Movie sets, which have different people coming and going, are doing it every day, while other companies are doing it every 72 hours.

“The reality is, even though most people are vaccinated, you can still get Covid and you can still transmit it to somebody that may not have the same level of immunity that you do. This is surveillance.”

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