What is this form?
Weare seeking your consent to test your child for COVID-19 infection.The New York City Department of Education(NYC DOE), working with NYC Health + Hospitalsandthe New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, has partnered with laboratories and other providers to testNYC DOE students, teachers, and staff members for COVID-19 infection.
How often would you test my child?
We are arranging for our laboratory and provider testing partners to come to every school once a month to test some of the students and staff.If you consent, your child may be selected for testing on one or more of these occasions. In addition, your child may also be tested throughout the school year if they exhibit one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or are a close contact of a student, teacher, or staff person with COVID-19 infection.
What is the test?
If you consent, your child will receive a free diagnostic test for the COVID-19 virus. The attached letter provides more information about the types of tests that may be used. Collecting a specimen for testing involves inserting a small swab, similar to a Q-Tip, into the front of the nose and/or collecting saliva (spit).
How willI know if my child tests positive?
If your child has a specimen collected for testing at school, we will send information home with them to let you know.COVID-19 test results will generally be provided within 48-72 hours.
What should I do when I receive my child’s test results?
If your child’s test results are positive, please contact your child’s doctor immediately to review the test results and discuss what you should do next. You should keep your child at home and inform your child’s school. If your child’s test results are negative, this means that the virus was not detected in your child’s specimen. Tests sometimes produce incorrect negative results (called “false negatives”) in people who have COVID-19. If your child tests negative but has symptoms of COVID-19,or if you have concerns about your child’s exposure to COVID-19, you should call your child’s doctor. If you need help finding a doctor, call (844) NYC-4NYC.