There has been a 22 per cent drop in the number of positive results for lateral flow Covid tests in colleges and 16-19 schools in England in the past week, Tes analysis of Department of Health and Social Care data reveals.
In the seven-day period beginning 25 March, 261,154 Covid lateral flow tests were conducted in these institutions - of these, 298 were positive.
The latter half of the seven-day period marked the start of the Easter holidays for some colleges in England, which may explain the drop in the number of tests.
Previous analysis from Tes found that in the week beginning 18 March, 400,781 Covid lateral flow tests were conducted, of which 384 were positive.
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Covid tests in colleges and 16-19 schools in England
Week of 25 March-1 April
- Overall registered tests conducted in secondary schools and colleges: 2,931,291
- Registered tests conducted in colleges and 16-19 schools: 261,154
- Overall positive tests in secondary schools and colleges: 3,474
- Overall positives in colleges and 16-19 schools: 298
- Overall negatives in secondary schools and colleges: 2,923,923
- Overall negatives in colleges and 16-19 schools: 260,497
- Overall unknown/void tests in secondary schools and colleges: 3,894
- Overall unknown/void tests in colleges and 16-19 schools: 449
Week of 18-25 March
- Overall, registered tests conducted in secondary schools and colleges: 4,252,771
- Registered tests conducted in colleges and 16-19 schools: 400,781
- Overall positive tests in secondary schools and colleges: 4,502
- Overall positives in colleges and 16-19 schools: 384
- Overall negatives in secondary schools and colleges: 4,241,937
- Overall negatives in colleges and 16-19 schools: 399,868
- Overall unknown/void tests in secondary schools and colleges: 5,803
- Overall unknown/void tests in colleges and 16-19 schools: 529