by Ethan Wood
Students get tested at the school in the nurse's office each week, and the state rewards them $25 for the first test and then $10 every time after that.
When tested, students are asked normal questions about symptoms. They are then given the nose swab test (which is much less intrusive than the nose swab tests previously used) and get their results back the same day.
The money that comes through the system doesn’t just benefit the kids, but also benefits the school. While the students are getting these few dollars to participate, the school is also incentivized, in order to help fund the staffing to administer the tests.
This program creates a situation for not only students and teachers to feel safe, but more specifically athletes. This serial testing program creates the ability for student athletes, such as basketball players, to not have to wear masks when playing indoors.
If 80% of a team’s players have been tested that week, they are allowed to play without masks. However if the other team does not have 80% of players tested, they may have to wear masks during the game.
Some athletes are confused about why they have to get tested every week. Since all but two of the players are vaccinated, wondered sophomore Kortlan Nelson, “why test?” But the most of the team plans to participate in the testing program.
Now that students are able to get this serial testing it creates an environment where students, teachers and visitors don’t have to try to guess whether someone has COVID. If someone is feeling ill they will be tested and the school will know whether they need to stay home due to COVID, or if they need to stay home due to a common cold. It will make those normal winter coughs, sneezes, and sniffles a bit less scary.by Ethan Wood