Seattle Public Schools reports 4% COVID positivity rate from two days of testing
Jan 5, 2022, 8:14 AM | Updated: 9:21 am
First grade students at the Green Mountain School in Woodland, Washington. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
(Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
After holding two days of COVID-19 testing for Seattle Public Schools students and staff, the district released its count of positive results.
Of the 14,021 students and staff who were tested Sunday and Monday, 588 — or 4% — were positive. They are now being told to quarantine at home for 10 days.
On Sunday, Jan. 2, SPS partnered with Premier Medical Group to offer testing for students and staff in the central and southeast regions. On Monday, it was a no school day for the district “to support a safe return to school after the two-week winter break.” COVID tests were offered to all SPS teachers and staff at their schools, and districtwide testing was offered to SPS students at 12 middle schools.
“Test results are collected and reported to public health,” said Beverly Redmond, assistant superintendent for public affairs, in a written statement. “As we have throughout the pandemic, we look to our local and state public health agencies for their counsel and guidance as our leaders carry out school operations. This allows SPS to focus on providing students with a high-quality learning experience in safe and welcoming schools.”
It should be noted there are about 53,000 students in Seattle and 7,800 staff. If any students or staff members got tested in other locations, their results are unknown.
Seattle schools return in person after winter break, but will go remote ‘if necessary’
Testing is offered at each school in the district this week, with parental permission. It is not required for a return to school, but is encouraged.
The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.
Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest
