Yorkshire Party calls for free Covid-19 tests at all secondary schools
The Yorkshire Party has called on the Government to provide free Covid-19 test for all secondary school pupils and staff in the North.
The Yorkshire Party has called on the Government to provide free Covid-19 test for all secondary school pupils and staff in the North.
It says currently, only secondary schools in parts of London, Essex and Kent are testing all pupils.
Yorkshire Party leader, Bob Buxton, said:
“Some tier two areas in the South have free tests for all secondary pupils, teachers, support staff and parents. In the North, unless you or someone close to you have symptoms, you have to pay privately for a test. Yet we’re the ones with tier three restriction. Again, Westminster is favouring the health and prospects of London and the South East, over Yorkshire and the North of England.”
“The system of deciding tiers simply doesn’t match the severity of conditions or level of support, if only tier two southern schools are deemed to need free tests for all. Tiers seem to depend more on geography than logic. As for support, we’ve learned this week that SAGE scientists called for more support for the North months ago but – as usual – the Government ignored SAGE advice.”
Cases in the areas of London, Kent and Essex where free tests are available have risen sharply, especially amongst 11 to 18 year-olds. Dr Buxton added:
“By the time you’ve got to the situation where infection is rife in schools, you’ve lost. Let’s get ahead of the game, for once, with free mass testing across Yorkshire and the whole North. As usual, the Government’s leaving it late in Yorkshire to do anything. At the very least, parents should have access to free tests, even without symptoms, before Christmas get-togethers – we must protect elderly relatives and those in vulnerable groups.”