The DETECT Schools program is well underway, with 1502 swabs already taken at 13 of the participating schools across metro and regional Western Australia. No asymptomatic COVID-19 has been detected to date.
Over the next three months, nurses from the Child and Adolescent Health Service and WA Country Health Service will visit a total of 40 schools and conduct over 18,000 tests in total.
The program is voluntary and requires consent from, or on behalf of, every participant, and involves a swab being taken from the nose and throat with minimal discomfort.
Results will processed by PathWest and the process will be repeated twice more before September 2020.
If a participant tests positive, the response will involve standard contact tracing and quarantine of close contacts, but additionally close contacts will undergo tests for COVID-19 over two weeks, irrespective of whether they show symptoms, and be asked to maintain a symptom diary.
The McGowan Government has partnered with us at The Kids Research Institute Australia to conduct the research project, which also involves a well-being survey of 80 schools, including the 40 participating in the swab testing and a further 40 from across the State.
The survey is anticipated to increase the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children and families in Western Australia and assist in formulating informed responses to community needs.
The DETECT Schools Program follows the end of the DETECT Snapshot Program, which tested asymptomatic adults from a selection of employment groups. Test results are continuing to be compiled but, to date, none have tested positive which further supports the view that WA has no community transmission of COVID-19.
Participating schools
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Albany Residential College Albany Senior High School Anne Hamersley Primary School Applecross Senior High School Arbor Grove Primary Ardross Primary School Ashburton Drive Primary School Atwell College Balcatta Senior High School Bateman Primary School Baynton West Primary School Beachlands Primary School Belmont City College Booragoon Primary School Bridgetown Primary School Broome Senior High School Bungaree Primary School Burbridge School Butler College Cape Naturaliste College Carnarvon Community College Castlereagh School Challis Community Primary School Churchlands Senior High School City Beach Residential College Clarkson Community High School Collie Senior High School Comet Bay College Connolly Primary School Cowaramup Primary School Currambine Primary School Dalyellup Primary School Darling Range Sports College Derby District High School Dianella Secondary College Durham Road School Dwellingup Primary School East Fremantle Primary School East Manjimup Primary School |
East Wanneroo Primary School Ellenbrook Secondary College Forrestfield Primary School Geraldton Residential College Gosnells Primary School Governor Stirling Senior High School Hampton Park Primary School John Tonkin College Joondalup Primary School Joseph Banks Secondary College Kalgoorlie Primary School Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School Leda Primary School Lesmurdie Senior High School Lynwood Senior High School Malibu School Merredin College Middle Swan Primary School Morley Senior High School Mount Lawley Primary School Narrogin Residential College Newman Senior High School Pinjarra Primary School Poynter Primary School Rockingham Senior High School Roebuck Primary School Roseworth Primary School Safety Bay Senior High School Shenton College Tom Price Senior High School Wanneroo Secondary College Warnbro Primary School Warwick Senior High School West Morley Primary School West Northam Primary School Western Australian College Of Agriculture - Harvey Western Australian College Of Agriculture - Narrogin Willandra Primary School Willetton Senior High School Yakamia Primary School |
