Governor Ned Lamont announced the launch of a free, rapid COVID-19 testing pilot program that will be implemented in Connecticut schools for students and staff.
Lamont says these tests issue results in less than 15 minutes, which would be much faster than the regular PCR tests.
“This instant real-time response is some of the testing we are doing to make it more effective, makes it more real-time, allows us to keep our schools open and allows us to keep our economy open." Lamont says increased testing will allow for schools to track the outbreaks much earlier.
Middletown’s school district is the first in the state to be a part of the program. They’ve run tests for almost a week now, with 10 students and staff being tested and two of them coming back positive.
State Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona says they will expand the program to another 20 school districts who hope to take part in it.
“We have an opportunity to do our part to make sure we have the testing available. We’re fortunate that, like the governor said, we haven’t seen widespread transmission in schools, we’re seeing it in the communities.”