Community Slams DC Schools Over Spring Break COVID Test Policy

Some parents are up in arms in DC after learning that their children would be required to have a negative COVID-19 test when they returned to the classroom from break on Monday.

Parents and members of the community are not pleased that students had to prove a negative COVID-19 test.
Photo Credit: *Wikimedia Commons/Library of Congress*

Zak Failla

04/24/2023 3:16 p.m.

More than three years after the virus began rapidly spreading at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, some were caught off guard when Dr. Lewis Ferebee, the Chancellor of DC Public Schools posted a reminder online that students need to provide proof of a negative test as they returned from vacation.

“Reminder: To ensure a safe return to school (on Monday), all students and staff must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test,” he posted on Twitter. “Visit (this website) for information on how to upload tests and more. Thank you for keeping our community safe!”

The reaction from parents was predictably spirited, with responses ranging from incredulous, to angry, while others questioned the move and the timing entirely.

According to the most recent DC Health data, there have been less than 10 newly reported cases on a week-to-week basis out of every 100,000 residents in the District. Hospitalizations for the virus are also near non-existent.

Last month, DC Health announced that it would be shuttering COVID Centers as the District continues to see a dramatic drop in new or serious cases.

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