In an email to the school community on Tuesday, Superintendent Randy Booker announced that the California Department of Public Health is offering free, at-home rapid antigen tests for students and staff to use before returning to school in January. The testing program is optional and Piedmont families can obtain a free test kit at Havens at the Highland Ave. entrance on Wednesday, Dec. 15 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 16 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. (avoid parking in the white zone until after 3:30 p.m.)
The email says:
“In general, tests must be picked up by parents or guardians, although middle and high school students may pick up their own tests and tests for their siblings. Please note that the supply of test kits is limited and intended for students and school staff only.
CDPH requires families that opt to do this testing to register with Primary Health and report the test results through the Primary Health website. Students and staff who have participated in on-site COVID-19 testing at school are already registered and do not need to register a second time. Questions about registering or entering results on the Primary site should be addressed to Primary Health directly at (650) 275-5419.
Each post-holiday test kit includes two tests for use by the same individual. One test is for use three days before returning to school (January 2nd) and the other test is for use the day before returning to school (January 4th). Detailed instructions for collecting the test samples are included with each kit, and a video demonstrating sample collection is available here. Please note that, although the instructions enclosed with the test kits reference an iHealth app for reporting the test results, all results must be reported using the Primary Health website.
As with any COVID-19 test, if the test result is positive, the student or staff member must: isolate; contact your health care provider as soon as possible; notify nurses@piedmont.k12.ca.us when school resumes; and notify any close contacts within the two days prior to testing.”