COVID-19 Health & Safety Information
- COVID-19 Health & Safety Information
- Communications from the Superintendent
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Archive
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ARCHIVE - 2020-2021 School Year Information
- ARCHIVE - BPS Learning Highlights
- ARCHIVE - BPS Response to COVID-19 - Reflections
- Free Breakfast & Lunch
- ARCHIVE - Health and Safety Protocols
- ARCHIVE - Home Health Checklist
- ARCHIVE - Wear a Mask
- ARCHIVE - Water and Sanitation
- ARCHIVE - Building Readiness Reports
- ARCHIVE - Safe Distancing in Schools
- ARCHIVE - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Overview
- ARCHIVE - 5 Day In-Person Learning FAQs
- ARCHIVE - Important Information from the Boston Public Health Commission
- ARCHIVE - Student COVID Testing
- ARCHIVE - COVID Reporting
- ARCHIVE - BPS COVID-19 Case Report
- ARCHIVE - BPS Dashboard
- ARCHIVE - Timeline of Supplies and Repairs
- ARCHIVE - Fall Reopening Plans
- ARCHIVE - Equity
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ARCHIVE - 2020-2021 School Year Information
iHealth At-Home Antigen Test
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- Free, voluntary, and confidential COVID-19 iHealth at-home antigen testing is available for students and school staff regardless of vaccination status.
- We strongly encourage all students and staff to participate in the weekly at-home antigen testing program. The more people who test regularly, the better data we have.
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Participation in at-home antigen testing program
In order for your student to participate in this new option, DESE, the state department of education, requires parents/guardians to specifically sign up for this at-home rapid testing option. Please note this form is a different form than the one you may have signed earlier this year for testing.
If you would like your student to receive a weekly take home test, you must submit a permission form for each student.
Please check your email for a message from “Permission Click”, which allows you to digitally sign your students' permission form. Please note, this email may be in your junk mail folder.
Every student enrolled will receive an iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Test kit every two weeks from the school. Each kit contains 2 Test Cards to allow for weekly testing. Please check their backpacks when they come home.
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Procedure for at-home COVID-19 testing
Prior to administration of at-home antigen testing, parents/guardians are encouraged to watch our tutorial video.
Test Schedule
- It is recommended that the at-home antigen test be done 3 days following the in-school COVID-19 pooled tests. For example, if the routine COVID-19 pooled test day is Monday, parents/guardians can administer the test on Thursday.
- If a student develops symptoms, you may administer another test as soon as symptoms develop. If the at-home antigen test result is negative for a symptomatic person, please obtain a PCR test by contacting your healthcare professional or visiting a testing site. Use this link to find a test site near you. Do not send student(s) to school.
- Students should be tested at home on a weekly basis. If a student test is positive, they will need to self-isolate and remain home. Please contact the school to report a positive test result.
- Once a student recovers from COVID-19, they can resume at-home antigen testing and do not need to wait 90 days.
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Test Administration
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Reporting Test Result
Positive test result:
If your student(s) tests positive, please use this link to self-report or call the school to report by 9am of test day. If you use the self-report tool, please notify the school you have done so. Do not send your student(s) to school. It is recommended you also notify your healthcare professional.
If your student tests positive, follow the instructions here.
Negative test result:
If the student(s) tests negative, you do not need to report the results to the school district. Test again the following week.
A negative result does not completely rule out COVID-19. If your student has symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you know they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, get tested at a testing location or repeat the test after 1-2 days and consult your healthcare provider.
Invalid test result:
If there is NO LINE, or if there is ONLY a T line, the test did not work correctly. You will need to retest with a new test kit. If your new result is also invalid, get tested at a testing location or contact your healthcare provider.
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STEP 1: SWAB
Brush against the inner wall of both nostrils 5 times each in a circular motion with the enclosed nasal swab.
The swab only needs to be inserted ½ - ¾ inches.
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STEP 2: DIP
Insert the swab into the bottom of the tube and stir it in the fluid 15 times.
Squeeze the sides of the tube around the swab as you pull it out.
If your test tube does not already have solution in it, carefully squeeze the solution into the tube.
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STEP 3: DRIP
Put 3 drops of the mixed solution from the tube onto the sample port of the COVID-19 test card.
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STEP 4: WAIT 15 MINUTES
Start the timer. Your results will be ready in 15 minutes.
If only the C line shows up, the test is negative. If both C and T lines show up, the test is positive.
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