Superintendent outlines testing plans for Libby schools
School and health department officials test staff after it was determined the coronavirus was spreading in Libby Elementary School in October. (File photo)
In hopes of mitigating the spread of the coronavirus within school buildings, Libby Public Schools administrators plan to roll out a rapid testing program by the end of the month.
Superintendent Ron Goodman said the district received 120 Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen tests from the state. While these nasal swab tests can provide results within 15 minutes, they are only useful for confirming a positive case of the virus,
“If it comes up as a negative, it doesn’t mean they don’t have it,” Goodman said.
As a result, the school district will only use the tests on students who show symptoms of COVID-19. Parental consent will be required before students can be tested. Goodman said the school nurse will administer the swabs.
Along with using the tests to clamp down on any cases of the virus in the schools, Goodman said the district will send home any students displaying either two or more minor symptoms or one or more major symptoms of COVID-19.
The list of symptoms, available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cites new or unexplained coughs, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and a new loss of taste or smell as major symptoms. Minor symptoms include temperatures greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, muscle or body aches, headaches, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and congestion or a runny nose.
To limit contact between students and staff, Goodman said schools would remain in phase one — the most restrictive in-person learning phase — of their coronavirus guidelines when classrooms reopen on Nov. 30. In this phase, student groups are kept together throughout the day. Staff members deliver meals to classes or cohort groups and locker use is restricted. Students and staff will continue to wear masks when classes resume.
On Nov. 11, the Libby Middle High School switched to a remote learning schedule. The elementary school followed less than a week later on Nov. 17.
While Goodman said health officials were unsure if the virus was spreading within schools at the time, administrators canceled in-person classes after an increasing number of students and staff were quarantined.