Local school students and staff may soon be quick tested to slow covid-19's spread.

Gov. Henry McMaster has given authority to the Department of Health and Environmental Control to offer its K-12 school testing program to Lexington County and other SC schools.

“Too many parents have to choose between their jobs and their children because they aren’t being given an option to send their children to school for in-person instruction,” he said.

“School districts have shown that we can safely educate our children in the classroom."

DHEC will offer schools:

• 220,000 Abbott BinaxNOW tests with each participating district initially receiving enough tests to account for 10% of the staff and student body.
• Tests will be available to symptomatic students, teachers and other staff.
• Results of the tests are available in about 15 minutes.
• Participation is voluntary and will require a consent form from minors’ parents or guardians. School districts can opt out of the program.
• The tests will go to school districts this week.
• Districts will need time to distribute the tests to their schools and train staff to use them.
• School districts can opt out of the program.
• Please check back with us at this site for
• what your child's district plans to do.