District providing free rapid tests
Symptomatic students and staff members eligible
With the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Alief has had to make many changes especially to its campuses to ensure the safety of all its staff and students. In hopes of reducing the spread of COVID-19, they have launched a program that offers free rapid covid tests to its staff and students. Previously, the only testing site available was at Crump Stadium. However, as of recently, testing is also offered on all Alief ISD school campuses. Testing at Crump Stadium is offered on Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Saturdays, it’s offered from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. It’s important to note that everyone is affected differently and that some might not show any symptoms, but that doesn’t stop you from spreading it to others who might be affected more severely by it.
Getting tested is not only meant to be about your health, but also “for the safety of others – if you test positive you may not be showing any symptoms but you may pass it along to others. COVID affects everyone differently, some show little to no
symptoms while others get very ill,” said Principal Lynette Miller.
When considering whether taking a test or not, consider the safety and effects that decision may have of those around you as well. If your main concern is not knowing what to expect, the test looks very similar to that of a pregnancy test.
When conducting the test, “both sides of your nasal cavity are swabbed and placed inside a test kit from which we will get the test results,” said school nurse, Nancy Gilstrap.
The results are typically ready within fifteen minutes and are shared via email if the test is taken off-campus. If taken on-campus, you will remain in an isolation room while you wait on the results. If you test positive, you will be sent home to quarantine for two weeks and are allowed to return to campus once you have tested negative.
“Anyone who has been exposed to someone who has tested positive or anyone who is
showing symptoms of COVID [is encouraged to get tested],” said Miller.
For more information visit https://www.aliefisd.net/rapidtesting.
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Julissa Frausto is a senior at Alief Hastings High School where she is part of the school’s newspaper staff and takes on the role of section editor for...
