- Durham Public Schools
- COVID-19 Testing
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On-Campus COVID Testing to Start in October
Durham Public Schools, in partnership with MAKO Medical, will begin offering building surveillance testing for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, as well as diagnostic testing for symptomatic individuals, at all DPS schools and district buildings beginning in October.
Students and individuals over 18 years old can sign their own consent form, while children younger than 18 years old will need parental consent to participate.
Families can register online by CLICKING HERE and find the link that corresponds with their students school.
Families can also access District COVID-19 information, as well as COVID-19 safety and health protocols, on the COVID-19 Resource webpage.
COVID TESTING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Q. Is DPS requiring unvaccinated students participating in athletics and high-risk extracurricular activities to be tested for COVID-19?
A. Due to the high risk of potential spread among athletics and other high risk extracurricular activities, DPS is currently recommending that parents of student athletics opt-in to the testing program. DPS encourages all those who are eligible to be vaccinated to do so.
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Q. How will the COVID-19 testing program work?
A. Proactive testing will be conducted with surveillance screenings among random samples of the student population to find and mitigate asymptomatic spread. Parents MUST provide permission for their child to participate in the testing program. Both physical and digital registration forms will be available for student participation.
The next step will be to incorporate diagnostic testing. This testing will be available to staff and students who show symptoms of Covid-19 while on campus. Rapid antigen testing may be conducted to quickly identify COVID-19 positive individuals who are symptomatic.
In both cases, quick positive results will result in faster isolation steps and more effective contact tracing to better mitigate the chance of spread.
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Q. Who will perform the tests in DPS?
A. State approved vendor Mako will conduct the screening surveillance testing weekly at all schools. Trained personnel will conduct the diagnostic testing when we add that option later this year.
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Q. What type of test will be used?
A. The screening surveillance testing will be pooled PCR tests. The diagnostic testing for symptomatic staff and students will start with a rapid antigen test. If that test is positive, it will be confirmed with a PCR test.
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Q. Where will the tests be performed?
A. Tests will be conducted at each school site.
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Q. Will DPS require parental consent before testing students for COVID-19?
A. Yes. A parent or guardian must register any minor under 18 years old in order a COVID-19 test to be administered.
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Q. Who has access to my child’s test results?
A. Strict confidentiality and HIPAA laws will be followed. Test results will be available to the school principal, school nurse, and the district COVID-19 Response Team (COVID Manager Delois Prince.
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Q. What happens if my child tests positive for COVID-19?
A. Upon testing positive, a student will be asked to stay at home in isolation for 10 days. The student must be symptom-free for 24 hours prior to returning after 10 days. Currently, a negative COVID-19 test is not required to return after 10 days.
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Q. What if I don’t want my child to be tested?
A. The COVID-19 Testing program, although strongly encouraged, is optional.
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Q. How will DPS address any bullying or harassment that might occur as a result of the testing program?
A. Durham Public Schools takes any issue of bullying or harassment seriously and will continue that policy in instances involving COVID-19 testing. Any bullying or harassment by a student or adult falls under DPS Policy Code 1710/4021/7230 “Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying.” Students or parents who believe harassment is or has taken place should immediately report that information to a teacher or administrator.
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Q. When will DPS begin offering COVID-19 testing?
A. Testing may begin as early as 5 days after the registration deadline.
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 TESTING LOCATIONS
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No Cost Community Testing Events
A state database of community COVID testing events happening across the region.
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Durham Public Health Free Testing Locations
Free testing locations, dates, and times from around the Durham area.
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FREE Community COVID-19 Testing Sites in Durham County
10:00 am – 6:00 pm Daily
El Centro Hispano
2000 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite 26ª
Durham North CarolinaSaturday – Sunday
9:00 am – 7:00 pm
414 E. Main Street Durham NC 27703
Free testing regardless of insurance or documentation.Peach Durham
800 N. Mangum Street Durham NC, 27701
Monday: 10 am – 6pmBoys and Girls Club
1010 MLK Jr. Pkwy
Durham NC 27713
Every Thursday: 10 am -4 pmSHAE Medical, PLLC (provided for patients of ALL ages)
5306 NC Hwy 55, Suite 105
Durham NC 27713 starting on Thursday January 6thARCpoint Labs of Raleigh-Durham
5322 North Carolina 55
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 338-7900
https://www.arcpointlabs.com/raleigh-durham/contact/- Appointment required
CVS Pharmacy
Multiple locations.
See website for details
https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testingDuke Primary Care Croasdaile
1821 Hillandale Road, Suite 24B
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 385-0429
https://www.dukehealth.org/treatments/urgent-care- Physician Order Required
- Screening Required
Duke Regional Hospital
3643 N. Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 385-0429https://www.dukehealth.org/covid-19-update
- Appointment Required
- Physician Order Required
- Screening Required
Duke University Hospital
2301 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 385-0429https://www.dukehealth.org/covid-19-update
- Appointment Required
- Physician Order Required
- Screening Required
- Testing for ages 13+
Durham County Human Services Building (parking lot)
414 E. Main Street
Durham, NC 27701
(877) 562-4850- Appointment Recommended
- Weekends only
- Testing for ages 1+
Durham Pharmacy
5826 Fayetteville Rd. Ste. 105
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 224-1234https://www.durhampharmacy.net/
- Testing for ages 2+
El Centro Hispano
2000 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite 26A
Durham, NC 27707 (877) 562-4850
https://lhi.care/covidtesting- Appointment recommended
- Testing for ages 1+
FastMed Urgent Care
7010 NC Highway 751
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 313-3900https://www.fastmed.com/urgent-care-centers/durham-nc-walk-in-clinic/
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
Hillandale Road VA Clinic
1824 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-6107https://www.va.gov/coronavirus-veteran-frequently-asked-questions/
- Must be a veteran enrolled in VA healthcare
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
Lincoln Community Health Center
1301 Fayetteville St.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 956-4034https://lincolnchc.org/?page_id=8193
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
- Testing for all ages
New Hope Urgent Care
3601 North Roxboro St.
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 247-0498http://www.newhopeurgentcarenc.com/
- Physician Order Required
- Testing for ages 18+
Passport Health Triangle - Durham - RTP
100 Meredith Drive, Suite 165
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 781-0053https://www.passporthealthusa.com/triangle/
- Appointment Required
- Testing for all ages
Reliable Health Services - Durham
2634 Chapel Hill Blvd, Ste 204
Durham, NC
(919) 596-9479- Screening Required
- Testing for ages 4+
Triangle Pharmacy - Durham
1700 East Highway 54
Durham, NC 27713
(919)544-1711, Ext.1https://trianglepharmacy54.com/
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
- Testing for all ages
Wake Toxicology Lab
5129 NC HWY 55, Ste. 103-104
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 399-1215https://waketoxicology.com/coronavirus-testing.html
- Testing for ages 2+
Walgreens
200 North Lasalle Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-5591http://walgreens.com/covid19testing
- Testing for ages 3+
