BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In recent days, we’ve seen coronavirus cases soar in schools as kids are back in the classroom.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the Alabama Department of Public Health are teaming up to offer free COVID asymptomatic testing.
The program is free and offered to all K-12 public and private schools.
UAB is reaching out to schools through the Alabama Department of Education. The test will be done voluntarily and will be a nasal swab test.
“Children a lot of times will be asymptomatic and with the Delta variant being so virulent, we need to make sure we have a good understanding of sort of what’s brewing at the surface if you will, so just keeping an eye on that,” said Dr. Martha Wingate with the UAB Department of Health Care Organization and Policy,
UAB says the funds for these tests come from the CDC and will start with a pilot school.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a plethora of information on how to protect yourself and other from the coronavirus.
The virus can easily spread from person to person, so the CDC recommends you stay at least 6-feet apart from people not in your household. The virus is spread through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breaths or talks, according to the CDC. Because of this, the CDC recommends you wear a cloth facemask when around others and in public.
Additionally, the CDC recommends that you frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Symptoms to look out for include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, a sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.
Click here to find more COVID-19 information from the CDC.
If you suspect you have the coronavirus, you should seek out testing and self-quarantine.
Click here to find more COVID-19 information from the Alabama Department of Public Health.