Dear Chatham CSD Parents/guardians,
Chatham Central School District has received additional COVID-19 at-home rapid antigen test kits from NYS, which we will be sending home with all students on Wednesday, February 16. Two test kits (containing two rapid tests each) will be provided for each student.
We are asking that all students and staff test following the February break. Please test your child the night of Sunday, February 27 (prior to their return to school on Monday) and again on Wednesday, March 2 (per NYS Governor’s guidance).
Taking part in testing is voluntary. If you do not want a test kit sent home with your child, please notify your child’s school building office no later than Tuesday, February 15.
Any student or staff member who tests positive on a take-home test must begin isolating immediately and follow COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidance. The parent/guardian must report the positive result to our school and the Columbia County Department of Health (CCDOH).
These tests are intended to be a screening tool. The CCDOH currently does not consider a positive at-home COVID test to be a confirmed case and recommends that any positive result be followed up with a lab-confirmed COVID test.
A reminder that students who are experiencing COVID symptoms must remain home and follow quarantine/isolation guidelines, even with a negative at-home test. A lab-confirmed negative test or a differential diagnosis from their health care provider is required in order to return to school prior to the completion of any quarantine period.
Together we can help keep the virus out of our schools.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sal DeAngelo
Superintendent of Schools