Enhancements Announced for COVID-19 Testing in Schools

Luxembourg's Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth has announced details of expedited dispatch of COVID-19 test orders and mobile testing teams in schools.

The health system applicable to schools provides that in an isolated case in a classroom (scenario 1), i.e. when a single student or teacher in a class tests positive for COVID-19, the affected class continues to attend school, while being separated from other classes within the school building. In addition, the students and the teacher(s) of the class are invited to be tested on the 6th day after the last contact with the person who tested positive.

Testing is a central element in helping to fight the spread of the Coronavirus.

The Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth and the Ministry of Health have decided to adapt the operating mode in place in order to ensure greater responsiveness in the implementation of the health system of National Education (Stufeplang).

Speeding up the dispatch of test orders

To ensure timely receipt, the distribution of test orders will now be handled by the National Education services. Thus, prescriptions will be delivered in two forms: on the one hand, directly to the parents of students (or to the adult student) by email and, on the other hand, in a printed version distributed to the students by the teachers.

Setting up mobile testing teams in schools

To test the pupils of classes affected by scenario 1 more quickly, mobile testing teams will visit school buildings to test the pupils and teachers concerned on-site. The completion of the test will be subject to the agreement of the adult student or to parental consent for minor students.

The samples will be taken during school hours. No test will be done during weekends. People who do not wish to take advantage of this offer will keep the option of going to a laboratory or a health centre carrying out COVID-19 tests.

A dozen mobile teams have been formed now and will begin their activities the week of 16 November. They will each consist of two people, including a health professional who will take oral samples; the second person will take care of administrative management of the tests, i.e. checking the adequacy between the medical prescription and the national number of the person to be tested.

The results will continue to be transmitted exclusively to the person tested or to the parents of the minor student.