The Test to Stay measure in Primary and Secondary education will be implemented from today, Monday.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health states that the measure is implemented following a unanimous decision of the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee and in the context of its efforts to keep schools safe and operational, without depriving students of their basic right to education.
Specifically, the auxiliary measure is addressed only to students, who will be close contacts of a confirmed positive incident COVID-19, declared within the school, as defined by the health protocol governing the school units (two meters away from all directions of the positive incident, inside the classroom, during breaks, during sports and during transport by private vehicle).
Adherence to the above measure is an optional option for students and has no retroactive effect.
Therefore, the measure does not apply to students who are in a state of self-restraint as close contacts.
In relation to close contacts who have no history of vaccination or have received at least one dose of vaccine or have completed their vaccination schedule and the period of 7 months has elapsed or they have become ill and the period of 90 days has elapsed, the competent Ministry states that they will have the option of either being confined for 10 days as provided in the relevant protocol and released on the 7th day if they present a negative PCR test at their own expense, or come to school and undergo a rapid antigen test (Rapid test) daily for the period of 6 consecutive days after contact (excluding holidays and weekends).
Regarding the examination with molecular control PCR on the 7th day as provided by the protocol of close contact management, the Ministry of Health is considering the possibility of the PCR examination on the 7th day to be replaced with Rapid test.
This measure concerns only the opening hours of the school units and after the departure of the close contacts from the schools, they should be self-restrained, as they continue to be considered close contacts and will not be able to take part in other afternoon activities, such as tutoring, sports etc.
He also notes that these people should avoid being transported by public transport and go to school by private vehicle.
Regarding the close contacts that have completed their vaccination program and the period of 7 months has not passed or they have a disease certificate and the period of 90 days has not passed, the Ministry of Health states that according to the protocol they are not obliged to limit themselves. however, they will undergo a rapid antigen test (Rapid test) daily for a period of 6 consecutive days after contact. He notes that holidays and weekends are excluded.
Regarding the procedure, he states that mobile units of the Ministry of Health will visit the school units, in which positive incidents were identified the previous day. COVID-19 and close contacts will undergo a Rapid Antigen Detection Test.
Rapid antigen tests will be performed between 07:30 and 09:00 and students will enter their classrooms after the result is issued.
The absence of students from the classroom during the laboratory testing process will be justified.
In case of a positive incident, the usual procedures will be followed by the school management.
The Test to Stay measure will be implemented on a pilot basis and variations may occur depending on the epidemiological picture.
Source: KYPE