THE Public School System and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., which concluded school-based antigen testing on Friday, said 83 students tested positive for Covid-19.
PSS said 75% or 6,861 of its students participated in the antigen testing initiative which started on Nov. 29 and ended on Dec. 10.
Though CHCC has limited manpower, testing was provided when schools re-opened on Nov. 29, Board of Education Chairman Andrew Orsini said.
He said the 1% or 83 students who tested positive were identified on the first day of the reopening of schools. “The surge of positive numbers is circulating within the community, and not from the schools,” he added. “The schools are the safest for students returning to the classroom for face-to-face instruction.”
Orsini said antigen testing will be a permanent activity in schools. “It will be a part of the schools’ safety protocols which include temperature check, hand sanitizing, and mandatory face masks — these are already in place.”
From Nov. 29 to 30, simultaneous testing was conducted in the following public schools:
• San Vicente Elementary School — 317 of 576 students participated. Two tested positive.
• Marianas High School — 1,107 of 1,543 students participated. Six tested positive.
• Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr/Sr School on Rota — 210 of 215 students participated. All tested negative.
• Saipan Southern High School — 537 of 721 students participated. Two tested positive.
• Da’ok Academy — 43 of 62 students participated. All tested negative.
• Tinian Elementary School — 229 of 248 students participated. All tested negative.
• Sinapalo Elementary School — 215 of 237 students participated. All tested negative.
From Nov. 20 to Dec. 1, tests were conducted in the following schools:
• Dandan Middle School — 240 of 429 students participated. One tested positive.
• Kagman High School — 353 of 485 students participated. All tested negative.
On Dec. 1, tests were conducted in the following schools:
• William S. Reyes Elementary School — 454 of 570 students participated. Four students tested positive.
• Tinian Junior/Senior High School — 203 of 224 students participated. All tested negative.
On Dec. 2, tests were conducted in the following schools:
• Oleai Elementary School — 326 of 377 students participated. Four tested positive.
• Garapan Elementary School — 451 of 513 students participated. Seven tested positive.
On Dec. 3, tests were conducted in the following schools:
• Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School — 222 of 312 students participated. Two tested positive.
From Dec. 3 to 7, tests were conducted in the following schools:
• Francisco M. Sablan Middle School — 294 of 363 students participated. Four tested positive.
• Tanapag Middle School — 248 of 301 students participated. Three tested positive.
On Dec. 6, tests were conducted in the following schools:
• Kagman Elementary School — 306 of 453 students participated. Seven tested positive.
• Koblerville Elementary School — 441 of 540 students participated. Two tested positive.
On Dec. 9 to 10, tests were conducted in the following schools:
• Hopwood Middle School — 484 of 685 students participated. Twenty-eight tested positive.
• Chacha Oceanview Middle School — 181 of 263 students participated. Eleven tested positive.
PSS stated that the antigen test results do not include students 18 years old and above. They were administered PCR tests.
PSS has been conducting antigen testing to detect the possible presence of Covid-19.
If an antigen test is positive, a PCR test is administered for confirmation.
PSS has no official data yet regarding PCR test results.
As for vaccination, BOE Chairman Orsini said schools at all levels have attained an 81% to 84% vaccination rate.
