Martha's Vineyard Public Schools To Begin Coronavirus Testing

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA — A coronavirus surveillance testing program is scheduled to begin Monday in Martha's Vineyard public schools following months of planning.

The goal of the program, which will use saliva-based, self-administered PCR tests produced by Mirimus Clinical Labs, is to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks by screening all students and employees on a regular basis and require that all visitors be tested. Tests will be delivered to the schools on Thursdays and results will be determined over each weekend through the end of the school year.

The testing program, which will begin with faculty this week and expand to the entire school community on Jan. 11, is able to begin this week through grant funding, including $100,000 from the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank charitable foundation and $212,150 from the nonprofit MVYouth. Schools will also contribute $150,000 to reach the program's total cost of $462,500.

The surveillance testing program was designed by a school-appointed task force and advised by epidemiologist Dr. Ben Miller.