PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Rhode Island is shutting down six state-run COVID-19 testing sites that since September have exclusively served school and child care students and staff.<\/p>\n
The sites will not be needed as testing will be available on-site at schools in the fall, and because testing is now more accessible in traditional health care settings, the state Department of Health said in a statement Thursday.<\/p>\n
The sites will end operations on July 31.<\/p>\n
They are at the Stop & Shop in Bristol; the Stop & Shop in Cranston; the YMCA in Lincoln; the Manton Avenue Stop & Shop in Providence; Fidelity Investments in Smithfield; and the Walmart in Westerly.<\/p>\n
The states plan for full in-person learning for the fall includes on-site testing, with school districts able to design and resource their plans. Options will include symptomatic testing, outbreak testing, and asymptomatic testing.<\/p>\n
The sites were opened in September to support the return to in-person learning and child care.<\/p>\n
Five school and child care testing sites will remain open.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Original post: <\/p>\n
Rhode Island to close 6 school COVID-19 testing sites - Associated Press<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Rhode Island is shutting down six state-run COVID-19 testing sites that since September have exclusively served school and child care students and staff. Continue reading