New voluntary COVID testing options

  • Decrease Text Size
  • Increase Text Size
New voluntary COVID testing options
OSD logo

Thurston County health officials have announced new voluntary COVID-19 testing options designed to reduce the length of quarantine for an unvaccinated, asymptomatic student or employee identified as a close contact to a positive COVID case.

 

The testing options are outlined in a new Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) flowchart for symptomatic students and staff posted on the county website on October 8.

 

In summary, the two new voluntary testing options are:

 

  • 7-Day Quarantine Option: An unvaccinated student or employee who is identified as a close contact at school/work, or community exposure, and is asymptomatic (does not exhibit COVID symptoms) must stay home from school/work for at least 7 days and take a COVID-19 test between day 5 and 7 of the quarantine. If the test is negative, the quarantine ends on day 8 and the student or employee may return to school/work and continue to monitor for symptoms until day 14. If the test is positive, the individual must isolate at home for 10 days View more details about the 7-day quarantine option on page 3 of the PHSS flowchart for symptomatic students and staff.

 

  • “Test to Stay” Program: This option applies only to an asymptomatic, unvaccinated student (not employee) identified as a close contact at school. The student may attend school if all testing criteria outlined by county health officials, including two negative COVID-19 tests (one on day 2-3, and another on day 5-7) are met. Students will be offered rapid tests at school with parent/guardian permission. Students may not attend any extracurricular activities, including sports, and other activities outside their home such as childcare or youth development groups, during this time. View more details about the Test to Stay Program for students on page 4 of the PHSS flowchart.

 

Students who become symptomatic at school or qualify for Test to Stay may access free COVID-19 rapid tests at their schools with parent/guardian permission. The COVID Rapid Test Consent Form is located in Skyward Family Access. Completion of the form is a two-part process outlined in this brief screencast tutorial. Additionally, take-home Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests are available to students 18 years and older.

 

This limited testing will only be available as long as there are testing supplies and staff capacity.

 

Be sure to get the latest health and safety updates on the In-Person and Remote Learning Updates webpage