Push for mandatory Covid testing in schools

All school children would be subjected to random Covid testing - even if they show no symptoms - under a controversial push by Australia’s leading teacher’s union. VOTE IN OUR POLL

All school children would be subjected to random Covid testing - even if they’re showing no symptoms - under a controversial push by Australia’s leading teacher’s union.

The reporting of the test results would also be mandated, as the Australian Education Union accused the government of showing a “lack of concern for the health and wellbeing” of students, raising fears over long Covid spreading in schools.

It is despite a recent Queensland Health report stating that instances of long Covid were “significantly” over-estimated in the state’s experience due to the prevalence of vaccines and the lesser Omicron variant being the main strain people have contracted.

Queensland-based infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin. Picture: Supplied

Queensland’s top infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin warned that rapid antigen testing asymptomatic people in schools would be expensive, unreliable and give false reassurances, but agreed comprehensive steps needed to be taken to protect students and staff in schools.

In its submission to a federal parliamentary inquiry into long Covid, AEU said the risk of long Covid due to repeat infections spreading asymptomatically in schools was high.

It called for “regular asymptomatic testing of all students and school staff” to be brought back, with RAT tests supplied to schools and families of students, as well as for all staff to be vaccinated and to receive financial support for testing and isolation periods if unwell.

“It is highly likely that repeated exposure to Covid at school will lead to increased long-term harm through cumulative effects of repeated infections and through an increase in the prevalence of long Covid among students,” the union’s submission stated.

The Australian Education Union wants regular asymptomatic testing of students and staff in school. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“Current Government approaches to limiting Covid infection, repeat infection and long Covid demonstrates a lack of concern for the health and wellbeing of students, teachers and broader school communities.”

Dr Griffin said relying on RAT tests would not address the issue, and instead said schools needed better ventilation, up-to-date vaccinations for staff and students, social distancing as well as facilitating testing of people with symptoms.

“That is far more effective than a screening strategy using a test that doesn’t fulfil that role particularly well,” he said.

He said the sensitivity of RAT tests could be poor, particularly in asymptomatic people, there were indications that some of the tests had been compromised in detecting the new variants, and that relying on them could provide “false reassurance”.

Epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman said he would like to see the random testing implemented in schools as Australia is in the middle of the fourth omicron wave.

“I personally think it’s a great idea, and think it should be introduced. I personally don’t think it’s going to happen because the government isn’t interested,” Prof Esterman said.

“The thing about kids is that it’s not a huge deal if they get Covid but the trouble is they can transmit it to their parents, grandparents, so if you can do it to dampen it down in schools it’s a good thing.”

“From a public health viewpoint, in the UK they have panel surveys where thousands of people get tested and you can keep a good track of how much is in there, but we don’t do that here.

Prof Esterman said the government also needed to protect the elderly.

“The more cases we have and this includes children the more long Covid we have,” he said.

“What we do know, in adults the more times you get affected the higher chance of getting long Covid.

“We don’t know enough if that’s the same for children, but nonetheless it’s a concern.”

Queensland Health was contacted but did not provide comment on the record.

Originally published as Push for mandatory Covid testing in schools