Salem Free Student Testing Ahead Of Return To Hybrid Learning

SALEM, MA —Salem Public Schools' massive efforts to test as many students and staff as possible for coronavirus ahead of a return to in-classroom learning next week continued on Tuesday and Wednesday with free testing at eight locations at schools across the city.

The district is using a saliva test to test students and staff and encourages all to be tested in efforts to identify any positive cases before student in grades kindergarten through ninth grade return to in-classroom learning in hybrid model.

For several of those grades, it will be the first time in the classroom since all Salem Public Schools closed in March. High school students in grades 10 through 12 are scheduled to return to the classroom on Feb. 4.

Afternoon testing in full swing! SPS staff and families are encouraged to get their COVID-19 testing. Short lines! pic.twitter.com/qnhi1QMV0I
— Salem Public Schools (@SalemSchoolsk12) January 5, 2021

"I cannot stress enough how important it is for families to avail themselves of this opportunity," Superintendent Stephen Zrike said. "It is very user-friendly, very child-friendly. If you are not positive you will not hear from us. If your child is positive, you will hear from us."

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Testing on Tuesday morning until 11 a.m. was scheduled for Bentley, Collins Middle School and Witchcraft Heights in a drive-up basis. Testing from until 3 p.m. was scheduled for Horace Mann and Salem High School.

Walk-up testing for Saltonstall was scheduled until 4 p.m. with drive-up testing from 2 to 6 p.m. scheduled for Bates, Carlton and New Liberty/Salem Prep.

Students and staff do not need to get tested at the school they attend.

SPS students and families - Hip, hip hooray, nearly 400 COVID tests already in today + we have several sites open for testing till 6pm! These saliva test kits are easy+painless, so please stop in one of the school sites either today or through Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/GTWr6zUGdo
— Kim Driscoll (@MayorDriscoll) January 4, 2021

On Wednesday morning, drive-up testing is scheduled for Bates, Carlton and New Liberty/Salem Prep from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Walk-up testing is scheduled for Saltonstall from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Drive-up testing is scheduled at Horace Mann/Salem High School at the front door of Horace Mann from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Those being testes are reminded not to eat or drink anything, or brush your teeth, within 30 minutes of the test.

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