Vaccinations, COVID Testing Top Priority for NOLA-PS as In-Person Learning Resumes for New School Year

New COVID Guidance designed to keep school buildings open and students in classrooms

(New Orleans – Jul 28, 2021) — With the new school year around the corner, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is committed to preserving in-person learning and will continue to track the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, in partnership with the City of New Orleans and our Medical Advisors.

"All occupants of our school buildings, from staff to students to visitors, should wear masks indoors out of an abundance of caution," said Dr. Benjamin Springgate, NOLA-PS Medical Advisor. "The best way to combat this pandemic is and will remain getting vaccinated for those who are eligible and to provide ongoing testing for our students who are not."

NOLA-PS and the school community will use a multi-pronged approach to keep the virus at bay within our community of schools. The District will continue to provide access to mobile vaccination sites throughout the semester at various school sites, in partnership with Core, Ochsner, and other local health care partners. To find the latest schedule, visit the COVID Care section of our website at www.nolapublicschools.com.

"We urge all eligible students - those 12 years or older - to get vaccinated," said Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. "That goes for their parents and caregivers, too. The vaccines prevent severe illness and help us control the spread of COVID-19. So, it is important that everyone, students, parents, grandparents, teachers and school staff, all get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones."

In addition to mobile vaccinations, NOLA-PS and our schools will require masks inside all school buildings, regardless of vaccination status and will provide frequent COVID-19 testing, via mobile testing sites, as we continue to fight the pandemic. Testing will be available through our health partners, including CORE, Children's Hospital, and Ochsner at the start of the school year and additional testing resources will be provided to all schools through a partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health in September.

With the support of the Louisiana Department of Health and our community of schools, weekly testing will be available for all students and staff. This will be funded by the CDC through the American Rescue Plan. Not only will students and staff benefit from the protections that weekly COVID-19 testing provides, but there will also be financial incentives provided to the individuals who get tested and for schools that participate in the program. Ultimately, testing helps NOLA-PS track and contain the spread of COVID-19 within our school community.

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 76 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.