15-Minute Coronavirus Testing Opens At Syosset High School

SYOSSET, NY — Rapid, 15-minute coronavirus testing is coming to Syosset High School, providing a convenient place for students, their immediate family and district staff.

The Syosset Central School District entered into a partnership with Mount Sinai South Nassau to provide a rapid test satellite location at the high school campus.

Tests will be by appointment-only at the site, which opened Tuesday. Appointments can be made Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Children must receive permission from their parents and be accompanied by an adult when they get tested.

A nurse will administer the test under the direction of Mt. Sinai South Nassau. The tests will be given via a drive-through format under a tent outside the school. The cost of the tests will be underwritten by each person's family health insurance and health data will be maintained by Mt. Sinai South Nassau. There will be no out-of-pocket cost.

Mount Sinai South Nassau will also offer members of the district community a rapid antigen test that is more accurate than many other rapid tests.

The site will not be staffed as an urgent care facility. People with a fever, cough or loss of taste or smell should seek medical attention.

State health officials require students and staff who show symptoms of COVID-19 to prove they tested negative for the virus before returning to school. The satellite testing location gives them a quick and convenient method to obtain that test. Use of the site is voluntary.

Appointments to schedule a test can be made by calling 516-390- 2888.

The testing site also gives the school district additional capacity to satisfy state testing requirements in the event the region is classified as a micro-cluster. Schools that fall into yellow, orange or red zones must test a certain percentage of the school population to remain open for in- person learning.

"As the prevalence of COVID-positive cases has recently risen sharply, we have learned of difficulties obtaining appointments for testing, and long wait times," superintendent Tom said in a statement. "We hope this partnership decreases wait times for families in the short term, and creates additional capacity in the event a yellow zone designation makes additional testing necessary to preserve in-person instruction for students."