COVID-19 rapid test distribution came with delays

PHOTO: The Yolo County Office of Education experienced complaints over its distribution of rapid tests. (Courtesy Photo: YCOE)

By Maria Anderson,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

With the rising cases of the new variant Omicron, the California Department of Public Health has created at home rapid tests for students and staff.  

“The idea was to get free rapid tests in the hands of every student and staff member so that they could test, ideally, before people came back from winter break,” said Laura Juanitas, Associate Superintendent for Student Support Services.

Because specific weather delayed the delivery of these tests to the districts, test distribution was postponed. Students received the tests on Jan. 7.  

“We had to have a day or so to get the tests divided up for each school site,” Juanitas said.

28,800 tests were delivered to the Yolo County Office of Education and they were sent off to five districts on the same day.

As those arrived after winter break, the YCOE has experienced complaints.

“So right now, we’re seeing a lot of comments about wishing that the tests had arrived prior to the start of school,” said Anthony Volkar, Public Information Officer at the YCOE.

Some schools were able to distribute tests earlier.

“We got ours before winter break, and it sounds like we were the only school in Yolo County that got them,” said Jenny Lillge, a mother of two students at a school in Woodland.

With the lack of availability of these tests, a one time delivery is all that has been assured for now.

“It’s probably not likely in the near future that we’re going to be able to provide rapid tests, every week, to every student,” Volkar said.

Regardless of rapid test availability, any person in Yolo County has access to the Healthy Davis Together testing sites, of which Lillge is still taking full advantage. 

“I don’t know if we’ll use (the rapid tests) because we have a Healthy Davis Together appointment, so we’ll test at the ARC on Sunday,” Lillge said.

Using rapid tests can help in a variety of ways, but is particularly practical for students.

“I think the at-home tests are a really useful tool… it’s something that can be done easily before school,” Lillge said.