Danbury Schools To Be Part Of Coronavirus Testing Pilot Program

DANBURY — Local schools will be participating in a statewide pilot program offering rapid coronavirus testing for students, their families and staff.

Kathy O'Dowd, the district's health and nursing services coordinator, made the announcement at a school board meeting Tuesday night.

Those tested must be showing symptoms of the disease, O'Dowd said.

While schools are on remote learning, the free, drive-thru tests will be available by appointment only at Danbury High School, as well as Broadview and Rogers Park Middle Schools. After students return to in-school learning, the tests will be available to those who become sick in school, O'Dowd said.

The program uses the BinaxNOW rapid test, which is very accurate at detecting the virus among the symptomatic. Those who are symptomatic and test negative will re re-tested with the more accurate PCR test which takes longer to get results.