At-home COVID-19 Test Kits will be distributed on January 5-6, 2022
Dear parents and guardians,
Last week Governor Kathy Hochul announced a statewide goal of providing students the opportunity to be tested for COVID as school resumes after the Winter break. There is no requirement that families test their children, but New York State is encouraging testing of students in order to keep students and school communities as safe as possible.
At this time the Utica Academy of Science Academies has received a shipment of these test kits. The state has provided us with one kit per student. Each kit contains two rapid tests with instructions on how to administer the test.
It is important to know that rapid tests are very accurate when used on a person that is showing symptoms of COVID-19, but unfortunately, they are not as accurate on someone showing no COVID-19 symptoms. Given this fact, we recommend that you save these rapid tests for when your child actually exhibits COVID-19 symptoms. However, it is entirely up to you when you use them.
Please note that the school district is simply a conduit for distribution. We will not be tracking or reporting test results for any reason. We ask that if you use the test kit on your child and they receive a positive test result that you report to the Local County Health Department by calling them.
Test kits will be distributed on Wednesday, January 5th, and Thursday, January 6th, 2022 between 2 pm and 5 pm at the UAS Elementary School Main Office. Parents can make their arrangements to pick up within the assigned time window.
Please feel free to contact your child’s school with any questions or concerns. As always, thank you for your continued support during these difficult and complicated times.
Utica Academy Administration and Health Services
