As schools, pupils and parents get ready for the return to class after the mid-term break, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Education Authority (EA) are highlighting the importance of regular asymptomatic testing in schools in reducing the spread of COVID-19. “High rates of participation in the asymptomatic testing programme, alongside the other measures within schools, will help us all to make sure that we’re not just protecting each other from the virus, but will also help to keep our children and young people and staff safe and in school. “We would again thank all of schools leaders and wider school communities for their support, commitment and determination to keeping children and young people safe and in school and keeping COVID-19 out of schools,” he adds.