Targeted Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing to Be Offered to Students and Staff
Brantford Ont. – Grand Erie District School Board and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, in partnership with LifeLabs, the Brant County Health Unit, the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and the Ministry of Education, will offer targeted asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for students and staff at no cost, starting April 10, 2021.
The voluntary testing will be available for asymptomatic students and staff at the schools indicated below on the scheduled date, time and testing location. A walk-in schedule based on the first initial of a family’s surname will be followed. Clinic information will be shared on school board websites and through the individual school locations. Specific details will be provided to those students and staff eligible for this round of targeted asymptomatic testing.
In addition to daily screening, masking and other health and safety measures, Grand Erie District School Board, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Brant County Heath Unit, Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and the Ministry of Education believe targeted testing in schools is an important layer of protection that helps to limit the spread of COVID-19. Targeted testing will help ensure that schools remain a safe environment for all to learn and work in.
“As school boards and public health partners, we were grateful for the opportunity to come together to be able to offer asymptomatic testing in our schools as a safe, easy, and convenient experience for our students and staff, “said Grand Erie Director of Education, JoAnna Roberto. “Asymptomatic testing is another critical tool in our toolkit to keep our schools safe and stop the spread of COVID-19.”
“We are pleased to be able to offer asymptomatic testing to our shared communities in a coordinated approach, “said BHNCDSB Director of Education, Mike McDonald. “With our two school boards working together, we are able to access a large portion of a targeted community and hope that this unified approach provides increased support to the work that our local public health units are doing.”
Symptomatic students and staff as well as those recently directed to self-isolate by their local public health unit due to a recent COVID-19 case are not eligible for this targeted asymptomatic testing. These individuals must continue to self-isolate or get a COVID-19 test at their local assessment centre.
At time of check in, consent from parents or guardians of students under 18 years old will be required for testing. Students and staff should wear a mask and bring their Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card with them to their appointment.
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Contacts:
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
Tracey Austin | Manager of Communications and Community Relations
taustin@bhncdsb.ca
www.bhncdsb.ca
Grand Erie District School Board
349 Erie Avenue, Brantford, Ontario, N3T 5V3
gedsb-communications@granderie.ca
www.granderie.ca
