Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for students in Windsor and Essex County will start this weekend.
All four local school boards have joined forces with LifeLabs to host the first COVID-19 asymptomatic testing clinic in the region.
"The voluntary testing is for those students, children and staff members who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 and would like to be tested," said Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board Superintendent of Education Melissa Farrand.
The clinic will be for the school communities in and around the N9A postal code including, F.W. Begley, Giles Campus, Prince Edward, Dougall, Immaculate Conception, St. Angela, Centre de formation des adultes, St-Edmond, Mgr-Jean-Noël, Lamothe Cadillac, and Louise-Charron.
"In consultation with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit we've identified the downtown area as the area to start our asymptomatic testing," said Farrand.
The clinic will be at Immaculate Conception Elementary School on Saturday. The clinic will have a walk-in schedule according to the last name of the student. Consent from a parent or guardian will be required for all students under the age of 18.
"We don't know what to expect. Across the province there's been a relatively slow uptake," said Farrand. "However, Windsor-Essex has been traditionally a hot-spot. We'll have to wait and see."
Results for the tests done at the asymptomatic clinic will take 24-48 hours to be processed. Students and staff may return to school while awaiting their results.
"In the event that an individual tests positive, the medical lab staff would be in touch with them as well as the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. The health unit will then determine through contract tracing whether or not any cohorts of students or staff members would need to self-isolate," said Farrand.
There are active outbreaks at Monseigneur Jean-Noel, Bellewood Public School, and W.F. Herman Academy being monitored by the health unit.
