Saskatchewan K-12 schools across the province are currently being shipped 100,000 rapid tests. The province says rapid testing for COVID-19 in schools may begin as early as this week.

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation and the opposition NDP have been pressuring to get these kits out to schools. STF President Patrick Maze has said, with a public health crisis, every tool at our disposal should be in use. He called for the 400,000 rapid response test kits received by the province in February, to be put to use, including in schools.
Teachers and school staff are not expected to administer the tests.

The rapid antigen tests use a short nasal swab and can be administered by anyone who has completed a training program through the Saskatchewan Health Authority lab. Schools will work with their local medical health officers to determine when testing is appropriate and will work with parents and caregivers to ensure consent is in place.

A positive test will require confirmation by a PCR test provided by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. A negative test does not need to be confirmed as long as the individual has no symptoms of COVID-19.