Elementary school students could soon be taking another kind of test at school.
Students will soon be eligible for COVID-19 testing, joining middle schools and high sch
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced on Wednesday that it is expanding access to no-cost and low-cost COVID-19 testing to elementary schools across Illinois.
(The Center Square) – Elementary school students could soon be taking another kind of test at school. Students will soon be eligible for COVID-19 testing, joining middle schools and high schools throughout the state in .
esting currently available for middle schools, high schools, and community colleges
To help ensure schools can more safely resume in-person learning, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced it is expanding access to no-cost and low-cost COVID-19 testing to elementary schools across Illinois. Schools can choose to utilize the saliva-based covidSHIELD test developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The covidSHIELD test can quickly detect the virus that causes COVID-19, and its variants, including among people who do not have symptoms.
“As we move ever closer to returning to how we lived pre-pandemic, it is critically important that we identify cases of COVID-19 as quickly as possible to help prevent outbreaks, which could ultimately lead to new surges,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Offering testing in schools, along with vaccination and masking, can help protect students, staff, and teachers when in-person learning resumes
UpdatedTue, May 18, 2021 at 9:12 pm CT
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker s administration earmarked $225 million in federal COVID=19 relief for SHIELD Illinois coronavirus testing in schools. So far, 10 of nearly 860 school districts have signed on with the SHIELD. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
CHICAGO Gov. J.B. Pritzker keeps pushing to make sure his pet coronavirus saliva testing operation at the University of Illinois cashes in on federal pandemic relief money.
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Illinois school districts already are eligible for federal reimbursement for coronavirus testing in an effort to get some kids back in schools amid pandemic shutdowns.
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But last week, Pritzker announced his plan to set aside $225 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and American Rescue Plan to entice school districts to sign contracts with SHIELD Illinois for coronavirus testing when kids are expected to fully return to in-person learning next year