FPS to Start COVID Testing Program

(Fargo, ND) -- Students, Teachers and staff in the Fargo Public School District may be getting another new mitigation strategy when it comes to battling the COVD-19 pandemic.

The District has confirmed to WDAY Radio that they are preparing to launch a COVID-19 testing program that would be available at every school scheduled during different times a day.

Each school would use BinaxNOW rapid testing that could keep a student or staff member with an unmasked close contact in-person. They would then have to be tested every-other day and remain asymptomatic during the program.

The District tells WDAY Radio that they are in the process of hiring the needed staff for the program, which was offered to them by the North Dakota Department of Health and is funded for FPS. That means the District will be reimbursed for all costs related to the program.

"By offering an opportunity for COVID-19 testing, students who are exposed in an unmasked environment and not-vaccinated can avoid quarantining from school by testing negative every other day until day 7," said District Spokesperson AnnMarie Campbell.

The district does say that consent from parents will be required for the program, but to this point a start date has not yet been announced.