CORONAVIRUS cases could go up again once schools re-open next week, Bracknell Forest’s top public health expert has warned.

Primary and secondary schools open their doors to students again on Monday, March 8, but the significance of any increase should be ‘reduced’ with a number of measures in place to control the spread of the virus.

Speaking to the News about the borough’s coronavirus infection rate, Charlotte Pavitt, Bracknell Forest Council’s public health consultant, said adherence to lockdown rules had helped bring the borough’s cases down.

Currently, the borough’s rate per 100,000 people is at 58.8 - the lowest it has been since October 13, 2020.

She added: “The attitudes and the adherence to the rules and regulations are what has brought it [the covid rate] down quickly.

“I think what might change when the schools reopen, the rates will begin to go up again, there's no shadow of doubt around that.

READ MORE: The two areas in Bracknell still recording in high covid rates

“The individuals mixing, that's how the virus transmits.”

But Ms Pavitt said Bracknell Forest schools were well-equipped to control and contain the spread of coronavirus when they re-open next week.

She added: “What we do know is that all of our schools have a revised risk assessment in place.

“They're all adhering to the national guidance that's come down in terms of face, space, and hands washing, etc., as well as the new testing regimes that we've got, all schools will be implementing those.

Pupils of Scoil Naomh Lorcan in Omeath walk into school after their lunch break, as junior Infants to 3rd class pupils return to school. More than 300,000 students have returned to classrooms across the country for the first time since December after

Pupils of Scoil Naomh Lorcan in Omeath walk into school after their lunch break, as junior Infants to 3rd class pupils return to school. More than 300,000 students have returned to classrooms across the country for the first time since December after

“In addition, the new national programme is also looking to test households that have children at school.

“So we're looking to provide that service in terms of community collect for tests so that individuals can pick tests up, take them home and test twice weekly.

“All those additional measures that are in place should reduce significant onward transmission and maintain those rates at a more sustainable level moving forward.”

READ MORE: Third rapid coronavirus testing centre opens in Bracknell Forest

Primary and secondary schools will see enhanced asymptomatic testing implemented when they re-open, with testing set to be rolled out for all teachers and school staff, secondary school pupils, families with children at all education settings, families of the school workforce and any adult that is in a childcare or support bubble.

Primary school children will not need to be routinely tested.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins a reception class painting lesson during a visit to St Marys CE Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, to see how they are preparing for students to return. Picture date: Monday March 1, 2021. PA Photo. See

Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins a reception class painting lesson during a visit to St Mary's CE Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, to see how they are preparing for students to return. Picture date: Monday March 1, 2021. PA Photo. See

Ms Pavitt added: “As part of the return to school programme, secondary school students will be receiving regular Lateral Flow Tests. 

“Initially, these will be carried out in school, with subsequent tests, provided by the school, to be carried out at home. 

“Primary school children will not be regularly asymptomatically tested due to low levels of transmission between younger aged children but will continue to need to come forward for tests if they have symptoms.

READ MORE: Location of every coronavirus death across Bracknell since pandemic began

“In addition to this, the Government has confirmed twice-weekly testing, using rapid Lateral Flow Tests, will be given for free to all families and households with primary, secondary school and college aged children and young people, including childcare and support bubbles, to help find more COVID-19 cases with no symptoms and break chains of transmission.

“Households can collect tests currently from Bracknell’s local testing site at Bracknell Leisure Centre.”

More information on household testing and test collection can be found here

Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Plans are underway to set up further community collection sites around the borough, so residents can collect tests for home testing at the site most convenient to them. 

Ms Pavitt continued: “Please do not use this service or go to a collection site if you have a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

“Anyone with these symptoms should book a test online (gov.uk) or by calling 119.”