11 Wake schools will offer free weekly COVID tests. See where it’s available
The Wake County school system is rolling out its new voluntary COVID-19 testing program starting next week at 11 schools.
Students and staff at the 11 schools can receive weekly, on-campus COVID-19 tests. It’s the first phase of a program that will see the school district roll out voluntary testing at all schools early next year.
“We strongly recommend all families participate in this free program,” the district says on its website. “Participation helps safeguard the well being of the entire school community and gives you information to help you keep your children healthy.”
Participation is voluntary. A parent or guardian must register any student under 18 years old in order to participate. To learn more about COVID-19 testing, visit www.MAKOstrongschoolsNC.com.
Wake is participating in the testing program offered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Mako Medical, the vendor in the state program, will conduct the COVID tests.
Nasal swabs will be inserted in people’s nostrils to collect samples.
Every week, all the samples will be tested in pools of two to six people. If the pool comes back positive, individual tests will be taken the next day at school to determine who had the positive result.
If the followup test result is positive, the person will be required to quarantine.
Which schools will offer testing?
For the first group, Wake picked schools that have COVID clusters or where the district feels the weekly tests would help the most. Only people who work or attend those schools are currently eligible. They must register to participate.
The schools that will be in phase one of the program are:
▪ Baileywick Road Elementary
▪ Briarcliff Elementary
▪ Carver Elementary
▪ East Garner Elementary
▪ Hortons Creek Elementary
▪ Ligon Middle
▪ Mills Park Elementary
▪ North Forest Pines Elementary
▪ Oakview Elementary
▪ Sanford Creek Elementary
▪ White Oak Elementary
Go to www.wcpss.net/Page/50523 for more information.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 7:30 AM.
