Columbia Public Schools among hundreds to get rapid COVID-19 test kits

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia schools are among those getting thousands of rapid COVID-19 test kits.

Hundreds of school districts and individual schools across Missouri will soon have the tests for students, faculty and staff.

On Tuesday, state officials began shipping thousands of antigen test kits to public and private schools including in Columbia.

Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said CPS will be receiving more than 20,000 rapid tests, which can only be used by CPS students and employees.

"We hope to be able to begin making the tests available to those who may need or want to be tested as early as next week," she said.

Baumstark said the testing will be offered in a drive thru.

Employees will be able to receive the test at the Aslin Administration Building, and students will be able to get tested at a specific school building. The district is still figuring out which CPS locations will be used for testing.

"We’ll be sending information out to families as soon as we have the details finalized, including times and exact locations where testing will be available," Baumstark said.

She said testing is not required but an option for students and employees.

The district on Tuesday started posting numbers of students who have tested positive for or been exposed to the novel coronavirus. Fifteen students were positive for coronavirus and 188 are in quarantine because they've had close contact with an infected person, according to a CPS website.

Columbia/Boone County Health Department Assistant Director Scott Clardy said not all school districts in the state will receive rapid tests.

"This is an offer made to schools and they can make the decision as to whether they want to participate or not, thus that is why some will get them and some won't," he said.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokeswoman Mallory McGowin said nearly 330 districts/schools applied to participate in the antigen testing program.

"Districts/schools applied to take part in this program and all applications were approved; so tests are not being sent to districts/schools that chose not to apply/participate," she said.

In order for a student to get tested McGowin said the district has to ask the parent or guardian for permission first.

Schools across Missouri requested nearly 583,000 test kits.