Dear Freeport Families,
Freeport Public Schools has received CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kits to distribute from New York State which is part of their continued plan to keep students safe in schools especially in light of increasing COVID positivity rates due to the Omicron variant. We will be making the COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kits available for pick up this week at Freeport High School Cafeteria on Wednesday, January 5 and Thursday, January 6 from 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Please use the back entrance to enter the cafeteria.
Please make note of the following:
- One COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kit per student. Each kit contains two tests
- Although the COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kits have an expiration date of January 2022, the FDA has extended the expiration time period on these kits by 90 days and the kits will not expire until the end of April 2022 as notified by BOCES
- You will need ID to pick up the COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kit for your child(ren)
- You can only pick up COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kits for your children, not for other families
- Picking up and use of the COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kits is on a voluntary basis only
- Instructions to use the kits are included in the box in both English and Spanish. The COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test kit has a QR code leading to a mobile app with further instructions, video instructions and assistance in interpreting the results
- You can use the COVID-19 Antigen Home Rapid Test either prior to your child's return to school or at a future date if your child develops symptoms
- Any positive COVID results should be reported to your child's school and followed up with a full PCR test, and keeping your child home from school seeking medical attention as needed
- The District continues to offer COVID-19 PCR testing on Mondays and Thursdays for all students, staff and families at the Caroline G. Atkinson School from 3PM - 5PM. You can register at https://tiny.prophasedx.com/atcfreeport or on our website www.freeportschools.org
The health and safety of our students remains our highest priority. The best defense is to get your child vaccinated. Increased vaccination rates and the wearing of masks will assist in combating COVID. Until we have achieved higher vaccination rates, we will continue to require other preventive strategies including testing, quarantine, physical distancing, mask wearing, and proper hygiene protocols in our schools. If you have questions, please contact your building administration.
Regards,
Dr. Kishore Kuncham