With the statewide suspension of the Test-to-Stay program in Utah schools, Canyons District is restarting its courtesy drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic for students and employees. Starting tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 a.m., Canyons District school nurses will be administering free rapid-antigen tests at the District Office, 9361 S. 300 East.
The COVID-19 testing clinics were suspended on Wednesday, Jan. 12 as a result of the workload that would be required of personnel to conduct the Test-to-Stay events at schools with case counts that met established thresholds. However, state leaders on Thursday directed schools to step back from Test-to-Stay programs so the Utah Department of Health can “devote its testing resources to congregate-care facilities, long term care facilities, and community testing sites.” This is making it possible for CSD to resume its testing clinic.
In a Jan. 13, 2022 letter to school district superintendents, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Brad Wilson, and State Superintendent for Public Instruction Dr. Sydnee Dickson asked schools to defer scheduling Test-to-Stay events. Due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant, Utah’s Test-to-Stay program “does not effectively identify infection … in time for isolation to limit its spread,” the letter states. “The omicron surge draws heavily on limited state testing resources while having limited benefit.”
The new guidance from state leaders also grants permission for local Boards of Education to pivot to online learning over the next two weeks, which the Canyons Board of Education has already done by setting aside Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 as a Remote-Learning Day. Because the Remote-Learning Day falls after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend and an already scheduled no-student day, this will give Canyons schools five consecutive days to pause to disrupt transmission of the virus with minimal disruption for families. This also gives time for employees and students to complete the recommended five days of isolation or quarantine before returning to work or school.
Please note that Canyons’ COVID-19 testing clinics are only for those experiencing symptoms. Employees and students who have symptoms of COVID-19 are eligible for testing at the clinic located in the garage beneath the Canyons District Office, 9361 S. 300 East. Parents must consent to the testing for their minor children and register through a secure Utah Department of Health portal found at this link. Employees also asked to register using the form found at this link. Clinic participants are asked to line up inside their vehicle outside the north entrance of the District Office parking lot.
CSD COVID-19 TESTING SCHEDULE
- Friday, Jan. 14, 6:30-8:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 19, 6:30-8:30 a.m.
- Friday, Jan. 21, 6:30-8:30 a.m.
Questions? Please call 801-826-5000 or send an email to communications@canyonsdistrict.org.
