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Anticipating a possible uptick in COVID cases after spring break, the state has sent 14.3 million at-home COVID tests plus other materials to all public and private schools, enough for all students and staff to be tested before returning to the classroom, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced over the weekend.
The tests, in addition to masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and social media messaging materials, are part of California’s SMARTER plan to curb the spread of COVID.
“California is focused on keeping schools open and students safe, and we’re not letting our guard down,” Newsom said. “We know that COVID-19 is still present in our communities, but the SMARTER Plan is how we keep people safe and continue moving the state forward.”
As of Monday, California had an average of 2,001 new COVID cases a day, and 54 deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health,numbers that have been steadily dropping since the omicron surge in January.
