Twice weekly RATs to be scrapped for Victorian students

Twice-weekly rapid antigen tests will soon be scrapped at Victoria’s schools, with a more relaxed testing system set up for high-risk students.

RATs will still be sent home with students until the end of the term.

Students in Victorian schools will no longer have to do twice-weekly rapid antigen tests (RATs) from next Monday, the Herald Sun can reveal.

The RATs will still be sent home with students until the end of the term, but only high-risk students will have to use them.

From Monday May 23, RATs will only be required by students who are household contacts of positive cases and those who have symptoms.

Household contacts will have to post five negative tests over a seven-day period in order to continue going to school.

A letter sent out to parents of state school students said the “ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms”.

Jells Park Primary School captain Anastasia with a Rapid antigen test kit. Picture: Ian Currie

“Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts,” the letter states.

Parents will only need to report the result of the test if it is positive. Both the school and the Department of Health or the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 must be notified.

“Students who are required to isolate or quarantine should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning,” the letter states.

“Schools are not expected to provide a full remote learning program in these circumstances. The Department has prepared online learning activities that may be useful in instances where families or schools are seeking additional activities and support for individual students’ learning while isolating.”