Pool Testing To Be Made Available To Public Schools, Governor Baker Says

By JULIE CUNNINGHAM

(Boston, MA) Today Governor Charlie Baker announced pool testing will be available to school districts around the state to help schools find and isolate COVID-19 cases. Baker said this initiative will help bring more schools back into the classroom. The universal weekly testing will be quick and affordable, according to the announcement today. This is a voluntary program open to all public schools in the Commonwealth and eventually private schools. Pool tests will be analyzed at a local laboratory and results will be turned around quickly. A state wide contract will be put out to schools who wish to participate.

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito also announced $1.4 million in funding to increase testing in the Commonwealth. Accelerating Coronavirus Testing Solutions, or ACTS, will help identify innovative solutions to increase testing in the Commonwealth. Polito hopes the new initiative will help with the challenges the pandemic has posed. The program is run by the Mass Live Science Center.  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Hospital and Brigham and Women’s hospital will receive funding from ACTS, as well as two Massachusetts based diagnostic companies.