COVID Testing Requested Of PGCPS Students, Staff Who Return To School Tuesday

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — When students return to in-person learning Tuesday at Prince George's County Public Schools, they will be given home test kits and KN95 masks, as will staff. One kit containing two tests will be given to each student who will be asked to test weekly in order to attend school the following week, announced PGCPS CEO Monica Goldson.

Every Sunday, tests are asked to be performed and results uploaded from Jan. 23 through Feb. 27. Home test kits will be distributed biweekly until the end of February. Goldson also said more students will be randomly tested in weekly pools, upwards of 20 percent of the student population.

"Our temporary shift to virtual learning system-wide was unprecedented among large school districts, but as we can see now, it was a necessary precaution that helped to slow the spread of COVID-19 within our schools," Goldson stated.

Weekly testing of unvaccinated staff will continue and no spectators will be allowed at athletic events through the end of January. Athletes who are unvaccinated will continue to be tested weekly. Starting Feb. 1, attendance at athletic events will be limited to 25 percent of building capacity.

The temporary K-6 virtual learning program will end Jan. 28.

"Each school will facilitate a return to school orientation meeting for our elementary virtual students during the week of Jan. 24 and upon returning to school buildings, these students will also receive a home test kit and KN95 mask," Goldson said. "I understand that families may have concerns about returning due to the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to collaborate with the local and state health departments to assess data and make the best decisions. My goal remains to keep our schools open safely, and I believe that we can do so for the duration of the 2021-2022 academic year by following the science and proven mitigation strategies: wear a mask, stay home if you are sick, complete the permission slip for your child to be randomly selected for weekly testing and get vaccinated."