All schools in the Vancouver School District will receive mouth rinse/gargle sample collection kits for students who develop symptoms of COVID-19 while at school. This will occur in partnership with BC Children’s Hospital.

This follows a four-month field test in 10 schools. The field test schools were Livingstone Elementary, Roberts Elementary, Roberts Annex, Elsie Roy Elementary, Mount Pleasant Elementary, Dickens Elementary, Dickens Annex, King George Secondary, Fraser Elementary and Queen Alexandra Elementary. The purposes of the field test were to distribute the COVID-19 test kits to the schools and families, and to have families complete the test at home. A key question was whether school-distributed home test samples would arrive at the lab. The field test proved to be successful. 

Families voluntarily participated and provided feedback, which included appreciation for having the mouth rinse and gargle collection kits distributed directly to them when they picked up their unwell child at school. Families also noted the advantage of avoiding a COVID-19 testing centre. In addition, the field test found there was less stress for some children with diverse needs – and for their families – because they were able to take the test in a familiar place.

Now, BC Children’s Hospital will distribute these same COVID-19 mouth rinse and gargle collection kits to all other schools in the District, and expand the number of drop-off locations in the city. Families will be able to bring their test samples to any LifeLabs location and BC Children’s Hospital. The hospital will provide 12 test kits for each elementary and secondary school of the District.

Families are asked to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 before children attend school each day. If they have any symptoms, children should remain at home and access testing at a collection centre, if advised.

Images courtesy of Provincial Health Services Authority