Dear community member,
The COVID-19 State of Emergency declared in California is set to end on February 28, 2023, marking a milestone moment in the response to the pandemic.
In a letter to families released today, I joined the district superintendents in sharing important updates on the implications for our school community.
The first update is that we are phasing out the opt-in school-based COVID-19 surveillance testing program effective March 1, 2023. This change does not impact the School Community Testing program, which will remain available at five sites throughout the county at no out-of-pocket cost.
In addition, we are modifying the testing requirements for students to return to campus following a COVID-19 case or symptoms. Starting March 1, families will be able to use over the counter (OTC) home-based antigen tests to satisfy the testing requirements. These tests can be performed at home and will no longer need to be performed or observed by a healthcare provider or CLIA certified program.
The end of California’s State of Emergency is a welcome development. However, our schools will continue to work diligently to mitigate and respond to the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses, and many resources will continue to be available to families. Please review the letter in full for more on requirements and available testing resources, and families also can contact their school site directly for further information.
Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
County Superintendent of Schools