California offers COVID-19 rapid tests to students, teachers in effort to support school reopenings

A teacher applies hand sanitizer to her hands while checking in to receive a COVID-19 test at Arthur E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas in this undated photo. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

by: Los Angeles Times

Posted: Mar 12, 2021 / 02:23 PM PST

Updated: Mar 12, 2021 / 02:23 PM PST

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California is offering rapid COVID-19 tests to students and educators in an effort to support school reopening efforts, state education officials announced this week.

State officials have about 5 million BinaxNOW antigen tests that schools can purchase that provide results within 15 minutes and cost $5 per test, said Daniel Thigpen, deputy superintendent of communications for the California Department of Education.

The news arrives on the heels of a deal reached between Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders to offer financial incentives to school districts that reopen by April 1.

Use of the rapid tests aren’t mandatory; rather, they’re an optional resource for schools, Thigpen said.

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