Covid-19 Testing Information
-
September 1, 2022 - PUSD has transitioned to implementing rapid antigen testing instead of PCR testing at the Primary Clinic at the Education Center, Monday through Friday from 7:45am - 3:45pm. Our provider for PCR testing, Color, is no longer offering PCR testing services. The benefit of offering rapid antigen testing instead of PCR tests is that your results are available within minutes instead of having to wait 24 - 48 hours. Employees who participate in rapid antigen testing at the Primary Clinic are asked to register on Primary.Health prior to testing. Registration information and support is available at the Testing Clinic.We will continue to offer over-the-counter (OTC) rapid antigen tests for staff and students to take at home. OTC kits can be picked up at school sites or at the Primary Clinic testing station.In an effort to make things easier for parents and guardians, and to keep our students learning in the classroom, last week the Pasadena Unified Board of Education approved some important changes to our District COVID safety plan.Results: If a student tests negative, they are cleared to come to school.
If a student tests positive, they must follow the steps below:
-
Report a positive test result to their school’s Nurse or Health Clerk via email or phone call. Please include the following information: First and Last name of student, Grade, Test result, Date test was taken.
- Students who have a positive test result and are in isolation may leave isolation before ten days if they have a negative result which can be obtained from an at-home rapid antigen test on Day 5 or later.
Previously, the test had to be completed at the Primary Clinic at the Ed Center and observed by the nurse to guarantee proper procedure had been followed. Beginning on September 6, parents/guardians can conduct the test at home and electronically report the results clearing the student to return to school. In addition to a negative test result on Day 5 or later, students must still meet the following criteria in order to return to school before Day 10:
- Students cannot have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine AND
- Other symptoms should be significantly improved and/or resolving.
- All PUSD students who return from isolation must wear a mask when around others for 10 full days after the onset of symptoms or if asymptomatic, for 10 full days after the first positive test.
-
EXTENSION ON EXPIRATION DATE FOR RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS
-
The California Department of Public Health has issued a blanket extension indicating that rapid antigen tests (at-home and professional use) are not bound by their expiration date, and rather, they are deemed valid tests as long as the control line of the test shows up when reading the result.
Learn more about this extension from this PDF from the State of California (download opens in new window).
GROUP TRACING
-
Update: April 18, 2022
PUSD has begun to implement the group tracing protocol as an alternative from the individual contact tracing. This strategy will allow for a quicker and broader response to cases identified in school settings, accomplishable through prompt notification, testing, and isolation protocols.Under the PUSD Group Tracing protocol, potentially exposed students, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, are required to test for COVID-19 with at least one diagnostic test obtained within 3-5 days after last exposure, unless they had COVID-19 within the last 90 days. Potentially exposed students can continue to participate in all aspects of K-12 schooling, including sports and extracurricular activities, unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.
POTENTIAL CLOSE CONTACTS
-
Parents and guardians who have received a notification alerting them that their student may have been exposed to an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 and their student is identified as a potential close contact, can use this link to complete the required survey and upload an image of the at-home test results.
Take-Home Test Kits
-
How and When to Test Your Student for COVID-19
January 21, 2022 - A family poses with the Take-Home Test Kit they've just picked up at student drop-off at Eliot Arts Magnet Academy
INSTRUCTIONS: Now that you have your Rapid Antigen testing materials, follow these steps:
For video instructions, click here. (on mobile devices)
haga clic aquí para materiales en españolStep 1: PLAN your test days
- If your student gets sick with symptoms (like cough and fever), STAY HOME and use your test to see if it is COVID-19
- If your student is exposed to someone with COVID-19 and NOT EXEMPT* from quarantine, STAY HOME and you can take your student and one test to the district office five (5) days or later after exposure for testing. If your student gets a negative test result and does not develop any symptoms, they may return to school eight days after the exposure.
Step 2: SHARE your test results
- If your student is very sick: call 911, visit an emergency room, or call your doctor.
- SHARE your test results on Primary.Health. This website is secure and HIPAA compliant, and will send your results to your local health department. Scan the QR code below with your smartphone or visit: https://my.primary.health/l/caschools
Step 3: UNDERSTAND your test results
- NEGATIVE TEST:
- If you feel well and have no COVID-19 symptoms, return to school.
- If you have SYMPTOMS or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call your school before you return – even if the test is negative. More testing may be needed.
- POSITIVE TEST:
- Stay home from school. Contact your doctor and your school right away. Isolate for 10 days.
- UNCLEAR TEST RESULTS:
- Take a PCR test at the PUSD Education Center (351 S. Hudson) or at a local testing site.
Any symptoms? Known exposure? Call your school before you return.
SCAN the QR code to share your results with your local health department.
LAS PRUEBAS RÁPIDA DE ANTÍGENO IHEALTH COVID-19
-
Cómo y Cuándo evaluar a su estudiante para COVID-19
Ayude a frenar la propagación de COVID-19
Ahora que tiene sus materiales de prueba de Antígeno Rápido, siga estos pasos:
Paso 1: PLANIFIQUE los días de examen
- HÁGALE LA PRUEBA a su estudiante durante las primeras semanas de clases después de las vacaciones de invierno.
- Si su estudiante está expuesto a alguien con COVID-19 y NO EXENTO* de la cuarentena, QUÉDESE EN CASA y puede llevar a su estudiante y una prueba a la oficina del distrito cinco (5) días o más tarde después de la exposición para la prueba. Si su estudiante obtiene un resultado negativo en la prueba y no desarrolla ningún síntoma, puede regresar a la escuela ocho días después de la exposición.
Paso 2: COMPARTA los resultados de la prueba
- Si su estudiante está muy enfermo: llame al 911, visite una sala de emergencias o llame a su médico.
- COMPARTA los resultados de su prueba en Primary.Health. Este sitio web es seguro y cumple con HIPAA, y enviará sus resultados a su departamento de salud local. Escanee el código QR al final de la página con su teléfono inteligente o visite:
https://my.primary.health/l/caschools
Paso 3: ENTIENDA los resultados de la prueba
PRUEBA NEGATIVA?
- Si el estudiante se siente bien y no tiene síntomas de COVID-19, regrese a la escuela.
- Si el estudiante tiene SÍNTOMAS o ha estado en contacto con alguien con COVID-19, llame a su escuela antes de regresar, incluso si la prueba es negativa. Es posible que se necesiten más pruebas.
PRUEBA POSITIVA?
- Quédese en casa. Comuníquese con su médico y la escuela de inmediato. Aislar durante 10 días.
¿RESULTADOS CONFUSOS DE LA PRUEBA?
- Tome una prueba de PCR en el Centro de Educación de PUSD (351 S. Hudson) o en un sitio de prueba local.
¿Algún síntoma? ¿Sabe si fue expuesto? Llame a su escuela antes de regresar.
ESCANEE el código QR para compartir tus resultados con su departamento de salud local.
¿Quién está exento de la cuarentena? Los estudiantes que estén completamente vacunados o se hayan recuperado de COVID-19, noventa (90) días antes de la exposición, no necesitan ponerse en cuarentena, pero deben hacerse la prueba después de la exposición y monitorear los síntomas.