PEORIA, Ill. — COVID-19 saliva testing may be used for students and staff of Peoria Public Schools to cut down on quarantine numbers when they return to in-person learning.
Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat said at Monday’s board meeting they are working on funding for the testing.
“It’s $20 per test, so it’s not free,” said Kherat. “I’m collaborating about funding. We could collaborate with a couple of partners.”
Kherat said the minimum amount of tests the schools would have to purchase is 5,000, which she said her internal team believes they should be able to use that many.
The tests would be purchased at a price of $20 per test from SHIELD Illinois, which is a program that uses innovative saliva testing from the University of Illinois. In comparison, most nasal swab tests cost over $100.
Saliva testing would be advantageous to the schools, because results are received much faster than traditional testing, said Kherat.
If a teacher or staff member is showing symptoms, they are able to get tested and receive results faster, meaning they can return to the classroom sooner if results are negative.
SHIELD Illinois test results typically take 6-12 hours to get results, while most nasal swab tests take 2-3 days.
When students return to school on Oct. 5, statistics will be looked at in comparison to the county as a whole when determining whether to keep students in classrooms or to go back to virtual learning.
“We’re looking at our own internal metrics and how those metrics relate to what the county is currently experiencing,” said Director of Transportation and facilitator of the return to school planning process Josh Collins.
Approximately 4% of cases in Peoria County since the beginning of the pandemic have been in the 0-9 age group, and 16% have been in the age group 10-19, according to Peoria City/County Health Department Director of Epidemiology and Clinical Services Kathryn Endress.
However, according to Endress, the number in the 10-19 age group has been inflated by Bradley University students who fall in that age range.
Public Health Administrator complimented PPS mitigation efforts in the return to school plan, saying they are the only schools in the area going with a hybrid schedule.
K-1 students return to Peoria Public Schools on Oct. 5 on an A/B hybrid schedule.
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