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Written question asked by Lord Lingfield (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 May 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 May 2020. It was answered by Lord Bethell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 May 2020 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether COVID-19 contact tracing, if widely applied, will also extend to school-aged children.

Answer

The Government is developing a new test and trace programme. This will bring together an app, expanded web and phone-based contact tracing, and swab testing for those with potential COVID-19 symptoms. This programme will play an important role in helping to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in the future, including for school-aged children.

The programme will include more traditional methods of contact tracing if a child, parent or guardian test positive. This could include, for example, direct discussion with parents and schools on recent contacts. The Government has recruited 21,000 contact tracers to support contact tracing and will recruit more if needed. They will play an important part in tracing the contacts of those with COVID-19, including school-aged children.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL4265
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Children Coronavirus Contact tracing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk