Abilene ISD To Begin Rapid COVID-19 Testing

ABILENE, TX --  In an effort to aid testing efforts in Taylor County, Abilene ISD will be participating in an optional rapid coronavirus testing program.

The school district is set to receive 5,300 tests a month. The number of tests is based on the hospitalization rate in Trauma Service Area D, which covers the City of Abilene.

"We want to deploy them in a way that really is good for kids and staff," said Superintendent Dr. David Young. "We think that if there is a student or staff member that is symptomatic that perhaps is not COVID and we can couple that with an alternative diagnosis and we can get them back to school by ruling that out -- that's a great thing and that's more the road we're heading down."

The program is a joint venture with the Texas Department of Emergency Management,  the Department of Health Services, and the TEA.