Greenville Leader

In an effort to ensure students get back and remain in the classroom with their teachers, free COVID-19 tests are available to students, faculty and staff of the Greenville County School District. 

On Twitter, Tim Waller, director of media relations for the Greenville County School District, noted during a news conference with State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, Greenville Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster that only 30% of eligible students had taken advantage of the free testing opportunity. 

Royster told WYFF 4 that by increasing access to testing, the goal is to get everyone back to class more quickly. 

“One of our greatest concerns with dealing with all issues around the pandemic is the amount of lost time that students experience from class and this is another tool to help us reduce that amount of lost time, while still focusing on the health and safety of our students our employees and our community,” Royster told the TV station in story posted on msn.com. 

Royster joined Spearman and DHEC Public Health Director Dr. Brannon Traxler on a visit of a school-based COVID-19 testing location, according to WYFF 4. 

According to Fox Carolina, the testing is performed by MAKO Medical, which handles PCR testing for districts in Greenville, Spartanburg, Greenwood, Cherokee, Oconee and York counties. According to WYFF, PCR testing can provide results within 24 hours. 

The testing has additional benefits to return students to class more quickly. If a PCR test yields a negative result, the student, faculty or staff member can return from quarantine on the eighth day instead of waiting to the 11th day.