Most elementary students in region to get rapid tests by Friday

Rapid antigen tests will be out to most elementary students across the region by Friday.

It's part of the province's plan to deliver rapid tests to all students and staff over the next few weeks in stages.

jeewan chanicka, the Director of Education at the Waterloo Region District School Board, said the goal for them is to deliver tests to elementary students by Friday.

Still, some may get tests this coming Monday because of the temperature sensitivity of the kits.

“There may be some push back to Monday, especially depending on the temperatures outside, knowing that the tests need to be kept in a temperature-controlled way,” chanicka said.

Rapid tests come in a kit of five tests, but each student will receive two tests. 

“De-kitting takes a bit of time to be able to try and break them down, and make sure that they're safely handled, safely stored, and then safely transported,” chanicka said.

Local catholic schools are already handing out tests to its elementary students.

But as for secondary school students, Loretta Notten, the Director of Education at the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, said it's still a work in progress.

“We'll stretch as far as we can with our secondary students, starting with our Grade 12 students,” she said. “And then, we will probably need the supplementary shipment that may come, I guess, next week to complete the deployment to all our secondary students.”

chanicka said the public school board is waiting on the secondary shipment for secondary students as well.

He added staff, including bus drivers and child care settings, will have tests too. 

Benoit Fortin, vice-chair of Conseil scolaire Viamonde, said their situation is “pretty much the same as the two other boards.”