Schools soon to have rapid antigen testing, shorter isolation periods

By Monday, November 15, some students will be able to complete a free rapid antigen test at home and isolate for a shorter period of time.

Announced by the Victorian Government on Monday, the tests, which are approved for use at home by the national medicines regulator, will be first rolled out to about 20 outbreak-stricken schools, before broader distribution to all schools next week.

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It is not yet confirmed if any Bendigo schools will be included in this group.

Education Minister James Merlino said children currently make up one-in-three primary close contacts across the state, with those under 12 still ineligible to get a vaccine.

"That means that there is significant disruption for students and their families when they're identified as a primary close contact at school," he said.

"For all of our unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated students, they'll be able to return to school a week earlier than has been the case."

The tests will be offered to unvaccinated students deemed primary close contacts of a positive case at school.

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It will allow students to return to face-to-face learning after seven days in isolation, rather than 14.

But they will still need to provide a negative PCR test on day six, and return a negative rapid test before school from days eight to 14 after exposure.

Bendigo Senior Secondary College principal Dale Pearce said while this announcement was geared more towards primary schools, it was still a step in the right direction for all campuses in the city and beyond.

"We're all aware there are significant disruptions to schooling occurring in Bendigo and right around the state at the moment," he said.

"The periods of isolation are particularly challenging for younger children and their families and so if that can be shortened through this pilot program then it would be a good thing.

"It does make sense to concentrate this trial in areas where there's the most significant disruption at the moment."

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