Details still unclear on rapid testing in Regina schools

After several weeks of learning at home, students in Regina will be heading back to class Monday — but at last check, it still wasn’t clear what kind of a role rapid tests will play.

In March, the province announced it would be shipping out 100,000 rapid tests to any schools in the province that want them.

On Thursday, Education Minister Dustin Duncan said Regina schools have tests in hand.

A spokesperson for Regina Public Schools said the division was working with the province to decide how and when the tests will be used.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Regina Catholic School Division said it had a meeting with the province that afternoon.

“They’ll have to make decisions in terms of what schools, specifically, that they will be utilizing the rapid testing. Will it be at every school? Will it be at select schools based on information that they would have from their local public health officers?” Duncan said Friday morning.

The minister said the divisions will also be getting feedback from parents on the tests’ use and on consent forms. Duncan couldn’t give any details on guidance the divisions might be getting on the use of the tests but did say the schools wouldn’t be able to use the testing on every person all the time.

“There’s a limited number at this point that have been sent out to the school divisions, so I wouldn’t expect that every single school would rapid test every single student every day. The numbers, in terms of the supply, don’t support that,” said Duncan.

Duncan said he knew of a couple of schools in the province that were already using rapid testing and had “pretty good uptake.”

When it comes to administering the tests, Duncan said schools that have a nurse on staff can have them give the tests, but otherwise the schools must have a third party come in or have the health authority provide that capacity.