Rapid tests are less accurate but might be more convenient for schools trying to test large numbers of people, Schooley said. PCR tests are slightly more accurate but take about 48 hours to produce a result. Both are done by inserting a cotton swab in the nose. Symptomatic individuals: testing anyone who has symptoms of Covid.Īnother choice facing schools is the type of test to offer: either polymerase chain reaction, also called a PCR test, or a rapid test.Outbreak at school: testing every unvaccinated person who’s been in close contact with someone who’s tested positive.High community rate: weekly or biweekly testing of everyone who’s unvaccinated.Low community rate: periodic testing of asymptomatic students and staff.
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The state is offering free tests for all public, charter and private schools in California and suggesting schools use one of four testing protocols depending on the infection rate in the community or if there’s an outbreak at school: Testing in K-12 schools “remains a powerful tool” for preventing transmission of Covid, according to state public health authorities. So far, more than 300 children in California, and 4,196 nationwide, have been diagnosed with MIS-C, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines are only available to those age 12 and older, and only 11.5% of 12-to-18-year-olds nationwide have been fully vaccinated, according to the Mayo Clinic.Ĭhildren are also at risk of contracting a rare disorder called multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a potentially deadly condition linked to Covid. Although children are less likely than adults to get sick or die from Covid, they’re also less likely to be vaccinated. Public health experts predict a jump in Covid cases linked to schools reopening. Everyone on campus, regardless of whether they’re vaccinated, must wear masks indoors, the state announced last month. The only measure that the state requires is masking. Vaccinations, social distancing, ventilation, regular cleaning, contact tracing and masking are also important ways to stop the spread of Covid, public health officials said. Gavin Newsom announced all state employees are required to be vaccinated or face weekly Covid tests.īut for most schools, tests are only one part of a broader safety plan. Disneyland is requiring most of its employees to be vaccinated. Many employers, including California-based companies Google, Apple, Lyft, Uber and Twitter, have delayed plans to bring employees back to the office, according to the New York Times. Stay up-to-date Sign-up below to receive breaking news alerts from EdSource by text message.Īs a result, many California counties have reinstituted indoor mask mandates, even for people who are vaccinated. Over the past month, new Covid infections in California grew by more than 400%, with young people leading the surge, according to the California Department of Public Health. The rapidly changing safety plans come amid a surge of Covid cases linked to the delta variant, a dramatically more transmissible strain of the original coronavirus that’s now dominant in California. “There’s no optimal way for schools to use testing, but we do know that it should be targeted and done frequently enough for school and public health officials to know what’s going on with the school population.” Robert Schooley, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego and co-creator of the university’s Covid safety plan. “Testing is an important part of tracking the spread of Covid,” said Dr. San Francisco Unified, meanwhile, is recommending that students and staff get tested if they have symptoms, but is not requiring tests.
Los Angeles Unified, for example, is testing all students and staff weekly, regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated. The result is a patchwork of safety plans that are likely to change as conditions evolve. But neither vaccinations nor testing is required, and schools have flexibility as to how they implement measures to prevent Covid outbreaks. The state is urging schools to test students and staff regularly and encourage everyone on campus who’s eligible to get vaccinated. Local Control Funding Formula ExplainedĪs students in California prepare to return to in-person instruction, schools are piecing together Covid testing and vaccination measures that are as varied as the state itself.
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