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If true, this is ridiculous. This would mean the govt wouldn't test children in schools except when they were 'close contacts' at which point they would be tested with LFTs to decide whether they should isolate or not. This isn't going to reduce transmission, and might fuel it. https://twitter.com/karamballes/status/1339603803054592002
Children are much more likely to be asymptomatic. The whole purpose of mass testing is to catch asymptomatic transmission early, and isolate. The purpose of this campaign appears to be to reduce isolation based on LFTs which have shown a sensitivity of 50% in Liverpool.
Even the sensitivity in high viral load cases (thought to be most infectious) was only 70%. Based on the NEU letter, the idea doesn't seem to be regular mass testing of children in schools, but rather testing of contacts (with a low sensitivity test) to decide on isolation.
This isn't going to curb transmission- the primary impact it will have is to reduce isolation periods for contacts who test negative. While this might reduce school disruption, there is no assurance that those who test negative do not transmit.
What we need is mitigatory measures in schools, with financial and practical support from government. Mass testing can be beneficial but needs regular testing of all children and staff, with provision of substantial support (staff, resource and joint planning) to carry this out.
Repeated frequent testing of all those at risk is key here - and in line with SAGE advice on this as well. Anything else will miss cases, and may provide false assurance to those who are infected, who may then come into contact with others and transmit.
