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SD6 included in rapid antigen test kit rollout
The B.C. government today announced that 300,000 rapid antigen test kits are to be delivered in phases to schools/students in the province.
The first phase will be rural and remote school districts for use by students with symptoms of COVID-19, including for those in School District No. 6 (SD6).
School districts will distribute the five-pack test kits for families of students who reside in rural and remote regions of B.C. This will ensure that communities that are further away from regional testing facilities have access to tests. In the second phase of distribution, tests will be shipped for students aged five to 11 in school districts within the Northern and Interior health authorities, the Ministry of Education stated in a media release.
Test kits for students are in addition to the more than 200,000 test kits shipped in mid-January for symptomatic staff, teachers and administrators. Test kits for staff have started to arrive in communities throughout B.C., with two tests being made available to every kindergarten to Grade 12 employee.
“Since the return to class on Jan. 10, teachers and staff in B.C. have worked diligently to ensure classrooms and schools continue to be safe places and spaces for students to learn. I thank them for the tireless work they do each day to give students every opportunity to achieve their best,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education.
The Ministry of Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control continue to advise how rapid antigen tests are best used as part of the provincial pandemic response, including if additional tests will be deployed for use in the K-12 sector.
The use of rapid tests builds on existing COVID-19 testing programs in place in communities.
“As schools provide essential support for students’ academic, social, and emotional development, we welcome the supply of rapid antigen tests for use by our students in parts of B.C. with less access to testing facilities, as this will help inform and provide more peace of mind to families,” said Andrea Sinclair, president of the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils.
School District No. 5 is not included in this phase of test kit distribution.
The school districts first to receive test kits for students include Rocky Mountain (SD 6), Kootenay Lake (SD 8), Arrow Lakes (SD 10), Cariboo-Chilcotin (SD 27), Central Coast (SD 49), Haida Gwaii (SD 50), Boundary (SD 51), Nicola-Similkameen (SD 58), Peace River South (SD 59), Gulf Islands (SD 64), Gold Trail (SD 74), Fort Nelson (SD 81), Coast Mountains (SD 82), Vancouver Island West (SD 84), Stikine (SD 87), Nechako Lakes (SD 91) and Nisga’a (SD 92).
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