Students wearing face masks in the classroom. (© Can Stock Photo / halfpoint)Students wearing face masks in the classroom. (© Can Stock Photo / halfpoint)
Chatham

COVID-19 testing delayed for Lambton-Kent schools

Voluntary asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for schools in Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton has been delayed.

The testing was to start on Friday, but the public and Catholic school boards say that won't be the case. St. Clair Catholic District School Board Director of Education Deb Crawford said her board is still waiting for more information from the private company doing the testing, GVT Labs and Imaging Services, and plans have yet to be finalized. Crawford said the plan now is to test students and staff over five weeks instead of seven as was announced last week.

"This is going to be a hub model. All four school boards in the area will be accessing a single site and all of the schools will be given direction that they're able to go to that site. We're hoping to hear very soon when we'll have all of the pieces resolved so we can move forward," said Crawford.

The plan is to have tests complete on staff and students at five per cent of schools each week but the testing is not mandatory. Parental consent forms must be signed before the student testing is done.

Lambton-Kent District School Board Director of Education John Howitt said the schedule is all set and he's looking forward to a starting date which hasn't been set yet. Howitt said the Ministry of Education needs certain requirements met when an outside firm comes into a school and the work continues to get all of that done.

"Criminal checks need to be in place, we need to make sure there are insurance certificates, WSIB is covered. All of those aspects we need to ensure are in place and do our due diligence to ensure our students are working with a vendor who meets all expectations that are legislated for us," said Howitt.

A testing location and a starting date have yet to be determined.

Last week the school boards said GVT Labs was dedicating two teams at two sites to test students and staff for seven weeks from March 5, 2021 to April 16, 2021 inclusive to conduct targeted testing on Friday evenings and on Saturdays. Howitt previously said school communities will get all of the information about where the testing sites are and how to register for appointments once the asymptomatic testing plan is complete.

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