NC Schools To Offer COVID-19 Rapid Testing In Pilot Program

CHARLOTTE, NC — Three Mecklenburg County schools have been selected to participate in a statewide COVID-19 rapid testing pilot program aimed at quickly identifying students and staff who are infected with coronavirus.

The news comes as North Carolina's tally of COVID-19 cases rose by 5,786 new cases Thursday, increasing the state's total to 457,660 known cases, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. At least 86 deaths were reported, increasing the state's death toll to 6,065.

As of Dec. 17, about 11.7 percent of tests conducted in the state were positive.

Hospitalizations dipped slightly Thursday to 2,804 patients, seven fewer than reported the day before. According to DHHS data, about 83 percent of staffed intensive care unit beds and about 79 percent of the state's staffed inpatient hospital beds were in use as of Thursday.

State public health officials reported Thursday that there were 51 COVID-19 clusters involving 827 positive COVID-19 cases reported in K-12 schools in North Carolina. DHHS defines a cluster as five or more lab-confirmed cases that are linked.

"The goal of the rapid testing program is to slow the spread of COVID-19 by quickly identifying students and staff who may have the virus, especially after the holiday season," DHHS said in a statement.

Three charter schools in Mecklenburg County are slated to participate: Lake Norman Charter in Huntersville, and Sugar Creek Charter School in Charlotte, UpROAR Leadership Academy

As part of the program, DHHS sent more than 50,000 rapid antigen tests to more than 200 school-based testing locations in 17 counties. The tests are to be used for staff and students who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, or if they are experiencing symptoms. The rapid antigen tests will require a nasal swab, which must be performed by trained personnel. Results will be available in 15 minutes.

Prior to selection, school officials were required to confirm to their local health departments they could obtain parental or guardian consent before testing, maintain adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, have trained personnel on site to administer the tests and report their results to state and local public health agencies.

Here is the full list of participating schools and districts by county:

• Alamance County: Alamance-Burlington School System (33 locations)
• Albemarle County: Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies (1 location)
• Bladen County: Emereau Bladen Charter School (1 location)
• Buncombe County: Asheville City Schools (11 locations), Buncombe County Schools (44 locations), Francine Delany Charter School (1 location)
• Cabarrus County: Cabarrus Charter K-12 (2 locations), Cabarrus County Schools (6 locations), Kannapolis City Schools (2 locations)
• Catawba County: Catawba County Schools (29 locations), Hickory Public Schools (9 locations), Newton Conover City Schools (6 locations)
• Durham County: Central Park School for Children (1 location), Healthy Start Academy (1 location)
• Forsyth County: NC Leadership Academy (1 location)
• Gaston County: Gaston County Schools (1 location)
• Harnett County: Harnett County Schools (28 locations)
• Johnston County: Johnston County Public Schools (1 location)
• Lenoir County: Lenoir County Public Schools (17 locations)
• Lincoln County: Lincoln Charter School (2 locations)
• Madison County: Madison County K-12 Public Schools (6 locations)
• Mecklenburg County: Lake Norman Charter (1 location), Sugar Creek Charter School (1 location), UpROAR Leadership Academy (1 location)
• Surry County: Elkin City Schools (3 locations), Mount Airy City Schools (4 locations), Surry County Schools (20 locations)
• Wilson County: Wilson County Schools (2 locations)