County Announces COVID Testing Initiative for Saratoga Schools

BALLSTON SPA – With an eye on schools reopening amid concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the county announced a new $3.9 million initiative that offers testing for local students, teachers and staff. 

Next week, the Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a $3.9 million project, that will make available what Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore Kusnierz called “a patient-friendly, non-invasive saliva/swab test in schools.” The project is fully funded by a federal grant via the CDC, and covers both the equipment contract – at $3.5 million with Quadrant Biosciences Inc. of Syracuse – as well as “necessary staffing” the board deems as appropriate for the tests conducted in schools. 

“I think this will be well-received by the schools,” Kusnierz said.  Results of the self-administered PCR test will be available in 24 hours, and assistance will be available for any student that needs help in performing the test. 

“The Superintendent of BOCES (Anita Murphy) is a member of our Task Force and she’s playing a key role in ensuring the strategy of our school districts – even those outside of Saratoga County – are aware of what we’re doing here in Saratoga,” Kusnierz said. 

“The frequency of testing will follow CDC recommendation – so that will depend on the level of community transmission and whether certain individuals are engaged in extra-curricular activities or sports, but in general it will be once a week when community transmission is at any level but low,” said Saratoga County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Daniel Kuhles. 

The CDC identifies four ascending levels of community transmission – Low, Moderate, Substantial, and High – by measuring the number of positive tests compared to county population over a seven-day period. In Saratoga County – where there is a population of approximately 230,000 – the LOW category would equate to less than 23 persons per week testing positive for COVID-19. The number of persons as of Aug. 11 testing positive in the county this past week is 295.        

Asked about implementation of the tests, as well as masking, Dr. Kuhles replied, “questions about mandates are really for the elected officials and school boards to decide.” 

“Regarding school reopening, the county is not taking any position or mandates as far as what schools are going to do at this point – that decision is going to be up to the individual schools,” said Clifton Park Supervisor and SHARP (Saratoga Health And Readiness Planning) Task Force member Jonathan Schopf. “We’re hoping for a target date of around August 16 when the schools will release their reopening policies.” 

Earlier this month, the Saratoga Springs City School District updated its current health and safety plans, requiring all students and staff to wear an appropriate mask at all times while inside any of the district’s buildings. 

“Masking is known to be an effective layer of prevention in schools and other locations,” said Dr. Kuhles. “It prevents the wearer from being exposed when used consistently and correctly and it can also act as a type of source control if the wearer of the mask is infected and prevent exposures to others.” 

Kusnierz said Saratoga County is the third most vaccinated county in the state outside of New York City. Meanwhile, Saratoga County remains in the “High Transmission” range of the virus as per CDC metrics. As per age range, the 18 to 29 years-of-age group has returned the most positive test results since Aug. 1 Kusnierz said, accounting for one-fourth of all positive cases in  Saratoga County.   

“The increase in numbers regarding the Delta variant with the COVID-19 disease certainly is concerning based upon what we’re seeing happen across the nation, across New York State, and we’re also concerned here in Saratoga County,” said Kusnierz, “but I just want to keep it in perspective If you look at the (relatively low) number of people being hospitalized.” 

“Yes, the numbers are going up, however the best way for an individual to be protected is to get the vaccination. It’s been demonstrated scientifically: you get the vaccine, there’s a high probability you’re not going to get admitted to the hospital…I encourage all our residents to receive the vaccination,” Kusnierz said.

Dr. Kuhles agreed. “The vaccine is doing what it is designed to do which is prevent hospitalizations, severe illness, and death…vaccine remains our most effective tool in our battle against COVID.”