1.25 APS Announces Plan to Provide COVID-19 Surveillance Testing in Schools

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of Communications and Public Engagement
130 Trinity Avenue SW | Atlanta, Georgia 30303

 

Ian Smith, Executive Director
404-802-2855, office
404-603-6934, cell
ian.smith@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Seth Coleman, Media Relations Manager
404-802-2891, office
404-406-5570, cell
seth.coleman@atlanta.k12.ga.us

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     

January 25, 2021

                       

APS Announces Plan to Provide COVID-19 Surveillance Testing in Schools

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring made the announcement today and answered questions about the District’s decision to slow the pace of its Return+Learn plan for students in Grades 3-12


ATLANTA – Atlanta Public Schools (APS) announced plans to provide COVID-19 surveillance testing in schools, during a press availability earlier today at M.A. Jones Elementary School in southwest Atlanta.

 

The news conference – featuring APS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring, Atlanta Board of Education Chair Jason Esteves and Viral Solutions, LLC President/Cofounder Ron Sanders and CEO/Cofounder Dr. Benjamin Lefkove – was held on the first day of the District’s Return+Learn initiative. Students in Grades PreK-2 whose parents or caregivers opted for in-person instruction, returned to the classroom today. Students in Grades 3-5 will return on Monday, February 8, while students in Grades 6-12 will return on Tuesday, February 16.

 

“We are doing everything we can to keep everyone safe. And, I want our students, teachers, staff, and the APS community to know that I’m listening. I hear your concerns. They haven’t fallen on deaf ears,” Dr. Herring said. “But more importantly, I’m acting on your concerns and I continue to evolve our Return+Learn plan with your feedback in mind.”

 

APS is leading the way in educating students in the safest way possible by being the first PreK-12 school district in the state of Georgia to offer COVID-19 Surveillance Testing in schools and buildings, which has been recognized as one of the surest ways to create a safe environment. This weekly testing will allow the District to be proactive and identify the presence of the COVID-19 virus, even in individuals who may be asymptomatic.

 

The District is partnering with metro Atlanta-based Viral Solutions, LLC, to provide screening services, with the goal of beginning to offer testing at several schools as early as Friday of this week, or no later than early next week.

“COVID-19 Surveillance Testing” is the formal medical term for this type of test, which will allow for the detection of the presence of COVID-19 in an individual, even if they are asymptomatic.

 

APS will offer this test to students and staff, and will be able to get those results within 24 hours. Surveillance testing will become yet an additional health and mitigation strategy deployed across the District.

 

While participation in surveillance testing is not required for students, it will be strongly encouraged. The success of this mitigation strategy, and the ability to return and keep students in school, is based on high levels of staff and student participation. The District is exploring all options as it relates to the administration of surveillance testing for staff, and will be implementing staff training, information sessions, and other staff engagement activities as it works to keep everyone safe.

 

Learn even more about the District’s health and mitigation efforts at www.atlantapublicschools.us/APSProtects.

 

 

NOTE: Below are links to today’s press conference, as well as photos and video of Dr. Herring visiting schools this morning including Finch Elementary School, Cascade Elementary School and E. Rivers Elementary School.

 

Video – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1robfeRXrG94mVi_5Agck8GehtpTQyeBA/view?usp=sharing

 

Pictures – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19MlZQBhTXJsKld2b9H2XDLl04H2Kp-vo?usp=sharing

 

Press Conference – https://drive.google.com/file/d/14MWPXAhHVhY8BE5uPILxzf01pepwrLKZ/view?usp=sharing

 

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About Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 52,000 students across 87 schools. The District is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 58 traditional schools, 18 charter schools, six partner schools, two citywide single-gender academies and three alternative programs. To learn more about Atlanta Public Schools, follow us on social media – Twitter (@apsupdate), Facebook (Atlanta Public Schools), and Instagram (apsupdate) – or visit us online at www.atlantapublicschools.us.