Durham Public Schools to begin offering free COVID-19 tests to students, parents

Durham Public Schools is among the first school systems in the state to begin offering COVID-19 tests to students, parents and teachers.

Posted 9:09 a.m. Mar 22, 2021 — Updated 3:43 p.m. Mar 22, 2021

Jessica Patrick

, WRAL multiplatform producer

DURHAM, N.C. — Durham Public Schools is among the first school systems in the state to begin offering COVID-19 tests to students, parents and teachers.

Earlier this month, officials announced the district will partner with Ottendorf Labs, a state-certified testing lab, to provide asymptomatic rapid PCR testing for anyone who needs it, including community members, beginning Thursday.

The tests usually provide results within 24 hours and can detect COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals, officials say.

The tests are voluntary and will be free to people who request them, and students' results will be reported to staff members or guardians and Durham Public Schools' lead nurse for contact tracing within the district.

Anyone under 18 will need a parent's permission before getting tested.

The tests will be available at Southwest Elementary, Mangum Elementary, Merrick Moore Elementary and City of Medicine Academy. A pilot program begins Thursday and the tests will be available when students return from spring break.

Officials hope the tests will keep more COVID-19 cases out of schools.

Elementary students in Durham County just returned to school on March 15 after one year of remote learning. On the second day of school, three classrooms at Southwest Elementary School and one at a second school had to shift to temporary remote learning after two students and a staffer tested positive for coronavirus.

Students in local middle schools and high schools are set to return April 8.

“I am so excited that we will have this additional level of protection for our students and staff,” said superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga. “Thanks to the federal grant supporting Ottendorf, anyone who wants it will have easy access to convenient and free PCR level COVID-19 testing.”

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