Seattle schools closed Monday, offering free rapid Covid tests instead

Seattle Public Schools cancelled all classes for Monday, Jan. 3. Instead of returning from winter break, as originally planned, the district will temporarily convert several of its schools into Covid-19 testing sites for students and staff.

School will resume for students in-person on Tuesday, Jan. 4, and Covid testing will be available at district-run sites throughout the week.

District officials say they received 60,000 rapid antigen tests from the state department of health, as a Covid spike driven by the omicron variant overtakes King County.

The testing, which is voluntary, is encouraged for students and staff who have Covid-19 symptoms or have had recent contact with a known case, regardless of vaccination status.

The tests are being offered to students and staff free of charge, and insurance is not required. Those who get tested can expect to get their results via text message or email the same day, the district says.

The district will also offer walk-up testing to students living in central and southeast Seattle on Sunday, Jan. 2 at South Shore PK-8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All schools in the district will still serve to-go lunches on Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Athletic practices will not be held Monday.

Visit this link for more details about which Seattle schools will offer testing next week.