The Pasadena Unified School District has moved forward with weekly COVID-19 testing following the school board’s approval of the policy last week, testing 816 unvaccinated students and staff on Monday alone, according to Superintendent Brian McDonald.
Although the School Board set a Sept. 1 start date — a full month ahead of a state health order to begin such testing on Oct. 1 — McDonald said PU SD had began operations even earlier, on Aug. 30.
Mobile testing clinics also began to operate at elementary and middle schools on Monday, he said.
Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab tests are being used by the PUSD health teams. Oral tests are available for the youngest students, McDonald said. Results of the tests typically come back within 24 to 48 hours.
The District is using the Valencia Branch Laboratory to process the tests. The laboratory is operated by PerkinElmer, a global diagnostics company, for the California Dept. Of Public Health.
Meanwhile, the District said Tuesday night that 14 more students and 1 additional staff member have been confirmed as having been infected with COVID-19 between August 27 and 31.
Since August 1, a total of 75 students and 25 staff have been confirmed as infected, according to the District’s COVID-19 dashboard.
The school board last Thursday voted unanimously to require staff and students eligible for vaccination, or those 12 years old and above to show proof of their vaccination or take weekly tests.
At the same meeting, the board also required students under 12 years old, as well as student-athletes, band members, and ROTC participants to undergo weekly testing, with informed parental consent.
McDonald said parents should register via Color, the testing management system being used by PUSD if they agree to have their child tested. Printed pre-registration consent forms will also be available for parents.
According to McDonald, school teams will reach out to parents to encourage them to give consent for the weekly testing.
Earlier, Ana Maria “Ria” Apodaca, Director of PUSD’s Health Programs said the staff will work with the PUSD leadership to determine how the district will handle students whose parents do not give consent for weekly testing.
Meanwhile, McDonald said employees who refuse to comply with the weekly testing requirement will be dealt with administratively.
“PUSD employees were among the first educators in LA County to step up and get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus. Many are already eager to present their proof of vaccination,” McDonald however said.
Unvaccinated staff and students above 12 years old have until October 15 to submit proof that they have already been fully vaccinated.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
