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COVID-19 Testing

Bristol Tennessee City Schools offers freeCOVID-19 testing for students and staff members. COVID-19 testing in schools not only helps prevent the spread of the virus, but it also helps students and staff stay healthy and able to continue learning, working, and enjoying other important activities!

  


 

REGULAR TESTING INFORMATION

 

Where does testing take place?

 

Testing takes place at the following locations:

 

Each School

Testing is conducted by nurses at each school’s clinic during school hours. Students will not be tested without parental consent. (See consent form information below.) Parents will be given the option to be present during testing; however, it is not required. Even with written consent on file, parental consent will always be confirmed before a test is administered.

 

Who qualifies? School testing is ONLY for the following students and staff:

  • Symptomatic students and staff (vaccinated or unvaccinated) who are already on-site and become ill during the school day.
  • Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated non-household contacts (5 days after contact).
  • Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated household close contacts (5 days after contact) and after the end of the case’s isolation (after day 10).

 

 

BTCS Administration Building

All COVID-19 testing appointments at the BTCS Administration Building must be scheduled by phone. We do not schedule appointments onlineSince staff and students must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for testing, it is helpful to speak with staff members or parents/guardians prior to scheduling an appointment. 


Drive-thru testing is available at the BTCS Administration Building, Monday through Friday, from 12 to 1:45 p.m. by appointment only. The Administration Building is located at 615 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Drive-thru testing takes place on the lower level under the walkway at the double glass doors at the rear of the building. (See map below.)

 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

(423) 793-7911

 

To schedule an online appointment for a test at the BTCS Administration Building, call the COVID-19 Testing Appointment Line at (423) 793-7911, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments may be scheduled up to five days in advance. After scheduling your appointment, please complete the online Consent Form here.

 

Parents/guardians will be required to show a government-issued photo ID (i.e. driver’s license) prior to their child being tested at the BTCS Administration Building. However, wrecognize it may not always be possible for the parents/guardians to be present. Therefore, on the consent form, parents/guardians will be asked to provide names of other individuals who have consent to bring their child for testing. The adult who accompanies the child will be required to show a photo ID.

 

Who qualifies? Administration Building testing is ONLY for the following students and staff:

 

Symptomatic:

    • BTCS staff and students who have COVID-19 symptoms and fit testing criteria per Return to School Protocols and COVID-19 Return to Work protocols.

     

Asymptomatic:

    • Fully vaccinated non-household contacts (5 days after contact).
    • Fully vaccinated household close contacts (5 days after contact) and after the end of the case’s isolation (after day 10).
    • Unvaccinated non-household or household close contact testing on or after Day 5 of quarantine to return if they do not have symptoms.

 

 

Consent Forms

 

All staff and students tested must have a signed consent form on file with the school district. Consent forms may be completed online in advance of needing testing and are valid for the entire 2022-2023 school year. If parents think they may want their child tested if they meet one of the above testing criteria in the future, it will expedite the process to already have a signed consent form on file. Once a signed consent form is on file, the school nurse will just need to contact the parent for verbal consent prior to testing.  If you are unable to complete the consent form onlineplease contact the nurse at your child’s school to obtain a paper copy.

 

 

How is the testing be done?

 

 The COVID-19 tests are free, quick, and easy. We use a viral test, known as an antigen (rapid) test, which returns a result in as little as 15 minutes. The test involves using a nasal cotton swab placed inside the tip of the nose. The test is not painful. We do not use the longer swabs that reach higher into the nose. This test will tell if you have a current COVID-19 infection, regardless of whether you have symptoms.

 

 

Who will conduct the test?

 

A school nurse, licensed by the State of Tennessee, who has been trained to use this test, will collect the specimen and perform the testing process. Testing results will be shared only for public health purposes, which may include notifying close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and taking other steps to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in your school community. Information sharing and notifying of contacts will be done in a way that protects your privacy. Sharing of information will only be done in accordance with applicable law and policies protecting privacy and the security of your data.

 

 

What if the COVID-19 test is positive?

 

All students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate immediately and follow the Return to School Protocols and COVID-19 Return to Work Protocols for positive casesSchool nurses are available to answer specific questions related to individual circumstances.

 

 

What if the COVID-19 test is negative?

 

As outlined above, there are several reasons students and staff members will be tested. A negative test result does not mean that isolation or quarantine is not necessary. For example, someone who is currently at school or work and exhibiting symptoms requiring testing will still be required to go home and remain isolated for 24 hours without a fever AND improvement in symptoms even after a negative test result. The circumstances for testing and requirements for isolation and quarantine after negative results are outlined in the Return to School Protocols and COVID-19 Return to Work Protocols. School nurses are available to answer specific questions related to individual circumstances. 

 

 

COVID-19 Vaccines

 

The CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Getting vaccinated helps prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. 

 

BTCS Administration Building Testing Site

 

Map of BTCS Administration Testing Facility

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