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In our continued effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, Abernethy, will participate in a weekly COVID-19 Screening Testing Program, a partnership between the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and PPS. Screening testing provides early detection of COVID-19, even when individuals have no apparent COVID-19-like symptoms.
If you are interested in having your student(s) participate in this free weekly COVID-19 screening testing program, please be sure to return a signed copy of the opt-ins provided to your students at the end of last week or today.
To enroll, families need to fill out both the OHSU and OHA Opt-in Forms and turn them in (even if families have already turned the OHA form in for diagnostic testing if students become symptomatic at school). If you do not want to Opt-In for OHSU, you will need to complete the OHA forms to have a test given at school if your child becomes symptomatic.
We recognize that families may have checked the screening testing box on the OHA form earlier this year, but we need to ensure that both forms are completed for enrollment in the OHSU Screening Testing program. Checking the box was not part of this process.
If I enroll my student in this testing program, what should I expect?
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Families who wish to participate in the testing program must fill out the consent forms and health authorization forms we sent with your student on 9/23/21.
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Our school will receive testing kits and labels to send home every Wednesday afternoon to be returned Thursday mornings.
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We ask that every Thursday morning, your student spit into the test tube to be return that morning too. We encourage you to watch this 4 minute video on how easy it is to collect a spit sample.
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Please return the spit samples that same morning. Coolers will be located with two adults coming off the bus and at the morning office in our Gazebo. Samples will be collected by OHSU for transportation to the lab for testing after being safely stored in our Symptom Space for pick up each Thursday.
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OHSU will share the results within 48 hours of the specimen being dropped off at school. You will receive a secure email with your child's results. Please note: PPS will not receive the results of your student’s test.
If it is a positive (or inconclusive) result, we ask that you keep your student home from school. Please call us immediately and we will follow the guidance provided by our partners at the Multnomah Health Department.
We know that this is an important tool in our effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It’s also important to remember that despite the availability of this program, the best tools to protect individuals against COVID-19 are vaccination for those eligible, physical distancing, masks, proper ventilation and airflow, hand hygiene, and staying home if ill or exposed to someone with COVID-19.
We are excited for the launch of this screening testing program, helping us make more informed decisions about our students safety and health.
Dr. Christie M. Petersen
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The project is a collaboration with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Education, OHSU, Multnomah County and our health partners at MESD.
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