Hundreds tested at Beacon, Mariner schools

Hundreds of school and community members turned out for COVID-19 testing at Beacon and Mariner middle schools Aug. 26 and 27, and officials are eyeing another testing event before school begins.

Delaware Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Jeff Sands said the state has coordinated testing since the beginning of the COVID-19 response, and is facilitating additional testing with all school districts. 

“The events of the last two days with the Cape school district were just two of the first such testing events focusing on education,” Sands said.

Sands said the state primarily uses Curative for drive-thru, state-managed testing events, and contracted with Vault Health to help expand testing before schools reopen. Testing is being paid for with CARES Act funding, he said.

Cape Supervisor of Instructional Support LouAnn Hudson said the district looks to have another event at Cape High, if possible, or at another location if the event isn’t feasible at the high school due to ongoing construction.

DEMA Director A.J. Schall said DEMA will offer testing for all students a week to 10 days before school starts.

“We want to make sure we have the ability to test students who show up to be tested,” he said.

Schall said 11,000 COVID-19 testing kits will go out to teachers for at-home testing before school starts. After school starts, he said, about a quarter of the school faculty will be tested each week so that all staff are tested once a month.

Gov. John Carney’s 25th modification to the state of emergency declaration requires schools to notify families if they become aware that a person who tested positive was in the school building at the same time as students.

“The manner and content of the notification is up to each school and must be consistent with applicable state and federal law,” the modification reads. “The Division of Public Health will work with schools on their responses to reports of positive test results and on ensuring that any descriptions of those actions in their letters are accurate.” 

Find testing events at de.gov/gettested.  

Reporter Melissa Steele contributed to this story.