Albany schools distribute thousands of rapid COVID tests to students

ALBANY – Parent Emily Hart arrived at Eagle Point Elementary to pick up a test kit.

"I think it’s really good to have, that they provide this to keep our home safe," she said.

Stephanie Kitto also got one. She is a parent, as well as a teacher.

"I think it’s great, and I think it’s very helpful to our families, especially as a parent for me to, again, just have that at home. Just to know if I do need it, I do have one available," she said.

Homeschool Coordinator Melissa Keen is giving them out to parents and guardians who signed up.

Each Albany school has its own different distribution plan. At Eagle Point, pickup is by appointment, and those appointments are spaced out through the day.

On Friday, the Albany City School District got about 8,800 test kits.

"We all want to know where we stand when we have symptoms or even if you’re asymptomatic and have been exposed to someone who may be positive. It’s just one of those measures to help see where do we stand in terms of positive and negative results, so that we can keep our doors open and have in-person learning for our students," said Albany School Superintendent Kaweeda Adams.

Eagle Point sent home a QR code with instructions.

"I think it was five minutes after putting the form out, we had something like 30 to 40 people already filling it out, so people have been very grateful that we are at least able to hand out something to them to help," said Eagle Point Principal Jared Fox.

These at-home tests have been hard to come by.

"It has been very difficult, over break, I know," said Kitto. "I was actually lucky enough to get one at a CVS, but I know many people who are searching for them and I know they’ve been in high demand, so hopefully for some families who weren’t able to find it, this makes it a little bit easier for them."