PCR COVID-19 Testing for Students and Staff 9/18/20

Thanks to the foresight and innovative work by the Hanover Fire Department, the commitment of the Town of Hanover and the Hanover Public Schools, and at the direction of South Shore Hospital, we are pleased to offer PCR COVID-19 testing to students and staff through the Hanover Fire Department Mobile Integrative Health Service.

On both September 1^st and September 14^th, over 450 Hanover Public Schools staff tested twice for COVID-19 for a baseline screening. We are very happy to report that all tests were negative. We have recently been granted the authorization to run a PCR test for any student or staff who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with a known positive person. We cannot test for travel purposes. Tests may be done in the school’s medical precaution area or, if the person resides in Hanover, at the person’s residence. Parents/guardians must provide written consent for testing of students under the age of 18. Consent may be given in advance or at the time of testing.

Information about testing procedures and consent for testing may be found on the Hanover Public Schools Health Services website and are also linked in this letter.

We feel this is an excellent opportunity to closely manage the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We ask that everyone continue to follow the guidelines of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: wear a mask, social distance, avoid large crowds and stay home if you are ill or under a quarantine/isolation order. Finally, if you are contacted by the Hanover Health Department, please follow their directions and be honest about who you have been in close contact with. Testing, isolation, quarantine, and contact tracing are some of the best tools we have right now to manage the spread of COVID-19. All of these measures will enable us to have the best possible chance of keeping the spread of disease in our community low, and our schools open.

If you have any questions, please contact me or your school nurse at any time.

Sincerely,

Patricia Smith BSN RN NCSN
Director of Health Services
psmith@hanoverschools.org