Skip to main content
   

Pooled COVID-19 Testing

Newport News Public Schools has partnered with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to offer free, pooled COVID-19 testing through the Virginia School Screening Testing for Assurance (ViSSTA) program.

All testing will be completed through pooled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which can detect the virus that causes COVID-19. With pool testing, nasal swabs from up to 25 asymptomatic individuals are submitted together for a single PCR test. If the test is negative, all individuals are assumed to be COVID-free. If the test is positive, the people in the pooled test group are given individual rapid tests, and those who test positive must quarantine.

Some COVID-19 infections come from contact with a person who does not have symptoms. Pooled COVID-19 testing can help identify infected people who may be contagious as early as possible, so that measures can be taken to keep the virus from spreading. In addition to wearing masks and practicing social distancing, pool testing is another tool to help mitigate spreading the virus to others. Please note that pool testing will only be conducted on those individuals who are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Testing will begin with student athletes in middle school and high school with additional students and staff added at a later date. Participation is voluntary. Every participant must have a signed consent form on file with the school site where testing occurs.

Parents/guardians who are interested in having their student athlete participate in this testing program are asked to contact their school's athletic director or athletic coordinator.

Consent Forms

Parents/guardians may complete and submit the COVID-19 Testing Consent Forms by clicking on the appropriate link below:

 

Top of Page