Millburn Schools Offer COVID-19 Tests For Staff And Students

Press release from Millburn Township Public Schools:

Feb. 23, 2021

As part of the Millburn School district’s ongoing efforts to provide for the health and safety of the Millburn school community, the district has begun offering free, optional, asymptomatic COVID-19-PCR DNA-based testing for staff, students and school district families.

This nasal-swab test will be administered on-site in two of the Millburn school buildings weekly. This testing option will provide an additional layer of protection from the spread of the virus, for both the people in school (students, faculty and staff) and for their respective families and communities. Frequent testing is optimal at curtailing asymptomatic transmission and/or outbreaks before they occur, which will help keep schools open.

Testing for Millburn Schools’ staff began on Wednesday, February 10, with nearly 100 staff members from around the school district sitting down for the 10-second nasal swab test. A second testing day was held for school district staff, students and families on Tuesday, February 16, with more than 150 people getting swabbed during vacation week. Test results are received within 24 to 72 hours.

Starting Tuesday, February 23, the school district will be hosting weekly testing on Tuesdays at both Millburn High School and Hartshorn school for Millburn Schools’ staff, students and their families.

Information has been sent to all staff and school families with instructions on registering and making appointments for testing. Testing is facilitated by BacktoWork Solutions. BTWS is CLIA certified company which is federally regulated and ensures patient-specific reporting. The company facilitates the registration portal, Tele-Med evaluations, nasal swab collections by medical clinicians on testing days, lab analysis, and delivery of test results.

The testing process is comprised of several simple steps:

· Staff or parents register and provide their consent for testing through a secure online portal.

· They then receive an email to schedule a telemedicine appointment with a doctor to confirm eligibility for testing.

· Participate in a 3-5 minute telemedicine appointment with a physician.

· Prescriptions for the nasal swab test are emailed to the patient with instructions for scheduling the testing appointment time.

· A printed paper copy of the prescription must be brought to the testing site to get a test, as well as test results.

· Testing is not available for anyone who is currently symptomatic or under isolation for having tested positive.

There are no out-of-pocket costs. The tele-visits and nasal swab tests are paid through a combination of each individual’s health insurance plan, the government, and/or the school district. Those without health insurance may proceed with the process and still be covered through a federal COVID testing and care program.

On Monday, February 8 Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christine Burton, gave a presentation about the testing program at the Board of Education meeting.

Dr. Burton says, “We researched a variety of testing options, and are confident that offering surveillance testing, in addition to the COVID safety precautions in place in our schools, through BacktoWork Solutions will provide another level of protection I encourage all staff and school families to take advantage of this opportunity as often as you can to give you the peace of mind of knowing that you are protecting your family and community. I was tested and it was quick, simple and painless…now you can do it too!”

This press release was produced by Millburn Township Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.