Medford Schools Opt In To State At-Home Testing Program

MEDFORD, MA — The Medford Public Schools will move away from pooled testing for the coronavirus and into the state's at-home testing program starting next week.

Students who are registered to participate will receive two rapid COVID tests per week to be administered at home. If a student tests positive, a parent or caregiver will be responsible for informing the child's school.

"While our PCR program has been a tremendous point of pride for our district, and we are eternally grateful to Tufts University for their continued partnership, this type of widespread surveillance testing program is no longer recommended by the CDC," Superintendent Marice Edouard-Vincent said in a statement on Friday.

Beginning the week of Feb. 7, students who register here will receive two rapid antigen tests from their school nurse's office per week. Families may also register by submitting a hard copy of the attached form to their principal's office or house office. Consent forms must be submitted by the preceding Thursday in order to receive the following week's supply of rapid COVID tests.

Pooled testing will continue this week and run concurrent to the at-home testing program into early March, subject to a review of positivity data. However, Health Services will no longer conduct contact tracing, and those who test positive will be responsible for informing close contacts themselves.

Click here for more information about submitting positive results to the Medford Public Schools.