CUSD COVID-19 Testing Update

Chico Unified developed this newsletter on January 12, 2022.

This phone line will be staffed on school days, M-F, from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. If you are calling outside of these hours, please leave a message.

Chico Unified offers FREE COVID-19 testing for current Chico Unified students, staff and volunteers. The testing program is provided by the California Department of Public Health.

Family members who are not current Chico Unified students, staff or volunteers, can find COVID-19 testing information and locations on the

Butte County Public Health (BCPH) website -

• Visit the Butte County Public Health Website
• BCPH Community Testing Locations

If you do NOT have any COVID-19 related symptoms, please use the testing location at your current school site or the CUSD District Office.

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, do NOT go to your school site. Testing for symptomatic students, staff or volunteers is ONLY offered at the CUSD District Office.

Register on the Primary Health website (this program is run by the California Department of Public Health for CUSD).

• First Time Tester - https://my.primary.health/l/chico-usd (current CUSD students, staff and volunteers)
  
• Return Testers - Once registered, you will not need to complete the registration process again during the 2021-22 school year.

No appointment is needed. All Chico Unified testing sites utilize drop-in testing. Please wear a well-fitted mask while utilizing testing services.

Students in grades TK-5 must have a parent/guardian present or confirmed parental consent prior to testing. If you need accommodations, please reach out to your school site Principal to discuss potential alternate options.

The California Department of Public Health and Primary Health allows students aged 13-17 to self-register for COVID-19 testing. Students who self-register have the ability to send test results directly to their phone/email.

Voluntary and free COVID-19 testing opportunities are now available at Chico Unified school sites for students in grades TK-12, CUSD staff and CUSD volunteers. This testing is offered to ensure all students eligible for Modified Quarantine have the ability to meet the testing requirements. This testing opportunity is provided by the California Department of Public Health in conjunction with Primary Health and is available to all currently enrolled Chico Unified students, staff and volunteers. The California Department of Public Health will determine the duration and funding of the program.

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Testing sites are for current Chico Unified students, staff and volunteers. If you are a family or community member, please view the Butte County Public Health Department to locate a community testing center. Thank you.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) sent at-home tests to the County Office of Education for distribution to school sites. The original intent of the CDPH test distribution was to help foster a safe return to school after the holiday break. Testing kits were received after school resumed for the spring semester and students had already returned from vacation. The late delivery of the testing kits required our school district to pivot and develop new protocols to effectively distribute the kits to students in a manner that will allow for students to remain on campus safely.

A district-wide protocol has been developed to help identify and distribute the new iHealth test kits to students. The protocol is designed to keep students in school and safely learning. The iHealth test kits will be maintained by each school’s health office designee. School nurses and health assistants will oversee the distribution of individual test kits to students.

School Health Offices will distribute iHealth home test kits to students who:

• exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
• may be eligible for early return to campus (based on the California Department of Public Health quarantine guidance).
• test positive while on the school site.
• have the opportunity to remain in class on modified quarantine (if Mobile Med’s on-campus COVID-19 testing is not available within the designated testing window).
• participate in home quarantine and wish to return to school early (based on the California Department of Public Health quarantine guidance).