McMaster says rapid COVID-19 tests coming to SC schools so they can safely reopen
School districts around the state will receive Abbott Rapid COVID-19 test kits so students and school staff can be tested on a regular basis, Gov. Henry McMaster announced Thursday, saying his ultimate goal is for schools to reopen.
McMaster said he plans to issue an executive order for the Department of Health and Environmental Control to provide every public school district with the rapid test kits.
“We want all the schools to be open and operate safely,” McMaster said. “In the same way many businesses, and many manufacturers, large and small businesses, restaurants, merchants and state government have all reopened, schools have to reopen. They’re essential to the progress, not only in education but also the social development, and the emotional health of the children. Every one of these closures, every action, every restriction ... there are consequences and we have to be mindful of that.”
Students would only be tested with parents’ permission, and staff members would have to give their consent to be tested. The test kits would be used when someone is symptomatic, such as having a loss of taste or smell.
Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC’s interim public health director, said during cold and flu season, the rapid testing capability allows health providers “to rule out COVID-19 more easily.”
“This will allow the students to stay in school if they are negative, and of course don’t have another condition such as the flu, and therefore reduce the amount of time that students are missing from school,” Traxler added.
If the 15-minute test comes back positive, is it considered a probable case, Traxler said.
DHEC said a positive rapid test would need to be followed up with a traditional test, which take longer to come back, but those tests are considered the gold standard of tests for COVID-19.
Traxler added the Abbott tests will be distributed to public school districts based on their student population, with the goal of getting them out to school districts the week after Thanksgiving. So far, 220,000 of the rapid tests are being allocated to school districts in the state, DHEC said.
About half of the schools, most of those elementary schools, are offering in-person instruction five days a week.
The Department of Education also plans to make $84 million of CARES Act money available for school districts to hire nurses. Seventy-nine schools in the state don’t have a school nurse, and 33 schools only have a part-time nurse.
DOE spokesperson Ryan Brown said athletic trainers can be be trained to administer the tests if needed, and high school students also may be able to swab themselves.
School districts will have to report positive and negative tests results to DHEC.
Brown added that the state is finalizing guidance for school districts on how to administer the tests.
Reporters Zak Koeske and Maayan Schechter contributed to this article.
This story was originally published November 19, 2020 at 6:07 PM.
