The Jamestown C-1 School District has received coronavirus antigen tests courtesy of the federal government, with their aim to help keep the school open for in-person instruction.
The Jamestown C-1 School has received 250 BinaxNOW antigen tests, authorized by the federal government for use in public and private K-12 school districts to test symptomatic school personnel and students for COVID-19.
The test is a minimally invasive anterior nasal swab, set to be administered by Jamestown's school nurse. The test yields results in just 15 minutes, and is intended to detect the protein antigen from SARS CoV-2 in individuals within the first seven days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.
Students or staff with negative test results but who are showing possible COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to remain at school and will have to follow up with their health care provider. A positive test result will immediately be reported to the county's health department, and the student or staff member will be sent home immediately. Both negative and positive test results will be shared with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
District staff and students may file a consent and acknowledgement form letter with the school, to be kept on file for the remainder of the school year, to approve the voluntary administration of the antigen test.