About a dozen members of the Utah National Guard operate a mobile COVID-19 testing site for the Utah Department of Health. Now, students and employees of the Davis School District will have access to a rapid COVID-19 test that delivers results in 15 minutes. (KSL-TV)
CLEARFIELD, Utah — More than 150 students and staff in the Davis School District have taken a COVID-19 test that works so fast, it gives people their results in 15 minutes.
The district has set up a testing facility at the Freeport Center in Clearfield, which is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Davis School District spokesman Chris Williams said the rapid tests are only for students and staff who meet certain criteria.
“They [have to] have been in quarantine for at least seven days. Their contact with an individual who had COVID-19 was mask to mask. They also have to show no symptoms,” Williams said.
Williams says the rapid COVID-19 test is a more pleasant experience than previous nasal-swab tests, an added benefit beyond getting results in 15 minutes.
“This is kinda a mid-nose test. It is much more comfortable,” Williams said. “And the results come back quickly, as opposed to waiting a number of days.”
Research shows that on average 70% of people who have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms after seven days do not have the virus.
So far, only three people have tested positive for COVID-19 using the rapid tests in the Davis School District. Most of the people who tested negative were back on campus that same day.
The Davis Health Department is paying for the tests with a federal grant.
People who do test positive will be given a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to verify the result, which could take a few days.
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention