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This bulletin is being sent to school district administrators, private school administration representatives, and tribal school contacts. Local health officers and tribal health directors are courtesy copied for awareness.
DHS distributes nearly 1 million at-home tests to schools, districts
Since the start of the 2022-23 school year, the Department of Health Services has distributed over 946,000 COVID-19 rapid antigen at-home tests through the K-12 COVID-19 Testing Program. These tests have been shipped to 70 of 72 counties and more than 375 school districts or private/independent schools.
There still are plenty of at-home rapid antigen tests still available during the 2022-23 school year to distribute to students and staff. Click here to learn more about how to order.
Tests can be distributed by schools by:
- Providing test kits to students and staff before holidays and encouraging testing before returning to school from breaks.
- Handing them out to parents/guardians during drop-off and pick-up.
- Allowing adults to pick up tests in school offices during set times.
- Keeping them in the health office to send home with a symptomatic student.
- Giving them to students during a specific time at the end of the day.
- Setting up a table during parent/teacher conferences, athletic events and performances.
To ensure all schools have equitable access, please be sure to distribute tests in a timely manner and reorder only when you have distributed the bulk of your tests. Schools do not need to be enrolled in the K-12 COVID-19 Testing Program to order these supplies. For questions about expiration dates, visit this FDA webpage.
Reminder: All Wisconsin households can order one free package of five rapid antigen tests each month through Say Yes COVID Test! Please share this information via social media, newsletters, websites and other communication methods with your students, staff, and families.
If you have questions about the K-12 testing program, please send them to DHSK12covidtesting@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
LTHDs are valuable partners in disease control
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reminds schools to partner with local and tribal health departments by proactively reporting significant illness among students/staff, as outlined in the state’s communicable disease reporting requirements. Reporting helps inform health departments so they can take action to protect students and the larger community. If you do not know your local health officers, here is a list of health department contacts by county. School officials are also asked to regularly communicate with parents to keep them informed about illnesses.
Please provide two weeks’ notice before ending testing
As a courtesy to vendors, DHS is asking schools provide two weeks’ notice before ending their participation in the K-12 COVID-19 Testing Program. This allows vendors to explore ways to reallocate resources and to help retain staff that could be needed in the event of a surge. If you have any questions, please contact DHSK12covidtesting@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Mark your calendars for next stakeholder seminar on Feb. 7
Mark your calendars for the next stakeholder seminar on Feb. 7. The DHS/DPI Joint K-12 School Stakeholder Webinar will be 4-5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7. Participants may join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device. Please click this link to join.
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