North Penn Among First Montco Schools To Launch COVID-19 Testing

LANSDALE, PA — North Penn is among the first school districts in Montgomery County to roll out a new COVID-19 rapid testing program for staff and certain students.

Testing will take place in all 18 districts each week. Testing is "highly encouraged" for all staff, and 800 out of 2,000 staff members have already registered.

“I am extremely proud that North Penn is a partner in this assurance testing program,” said North Penn Superintendent Curtis R. Dietrich said in a statement. “Most importantly though, I am thrilled that North Penn can take this preventative measure in helping to keep everyone safe and healthy and our schools open.”

It's part of a countywide program that will be introduced in every school district. Right now, only North Penn and Lower Merion have begun their programs.

>>Montco Launches COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing Program In Schools

The tests are voluntary, and free. They'll be conducted through April, as the school districts look to weather the pandemic while vaccine distribution gets underway.

Once testing for North Penn is fully in place — officials in North Penn are calling it "assurance" testing — the district will look to test students who require other people to be within six feet. There are not enough tests available for every single student to be tested, as the grant for this project was written to cover those at highest risk.

"By conducting tests on campus, school officials can use these tests as an additional screening tool in some cases to prevent the virus from coming on to campus," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said Wednesday. "And (to) provide another source of testing to which the school can quickly respond before they can spread the virus."

The antigen tests, provided by BinaxNow, involve a self-collected nasal swab. Test results are typically available within 15 minutes.