Lori Wilder, Director of Education with the Bluewater District School Board released the following letter to parents, guardians and staff on March 5, 2021 regarding the availability of voluntary asymptomatic COVID-19 testing.

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff:

The Ministry of Education has mandated that school boards make voluntary asymptomatic (without obvious symptoms) COVID-19 testing of students and staff available. Testing is voluntary and consent will be required. Planning is underway to implement this testing across Bluewater District School Board schools.

Communication regarding the date, including a link for registration, will be provided to staff and families prior to each clinic. Household members of students and staff, and anyone with symptoms, should seek testing at an assessment centre.

Asymptomatic testing clinics will occur in Bluewater District School Board using a “hub model” with a host school and a family of schools invited on the same date. The testing will be completed by GVT Labs, who will run the clinics. There are nine planned clinics, each on a Thursday evening, between March 11 and June 3, 2021. Each participating school will be booked in a set time frame (between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.).

Local public health units will continue to be responsible for investigation, contact tracing, and case management support in confirmed cases.

March 11, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
Peninsula Shores District, Wiarton

Other schools included:
Bruce Peninsula District, Lion’s Head
St. Edmunds Public, Tobermory
Amabel-Sauble Community, Sauble Beach
Hepworth Central Public, Hepworth

March 25, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
Grey Highlands Secondary, Flesherton

Other schools included:
Dundalk and Proton Community, Dundalk
Highpoint Community, Dundalk
Macphail Memorial Elementary, Flesherton
Osprey Central, Maxwell
Beavercrest Community, Markdale

April 8, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Host school:
Owen Sound District Secondary, Owen Sound

Other schools included:
East Ridge Community, Owen Sound
Hillcrest Elementary, Owen Sound
Itinerant, education centre, and occasional staff

April 22, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
Owen Sound District Secondary, Owen Sound

Other schools included:
Keppel-Sarawak Elementary, Owen Sound
Alexandra Community, Owen Sound
Holland-Chatsworth Central, Holland Centre
Itinerant, education centre, and occasional staff

April 29, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
Walkerton District Community, Walkerton

Other schools included:
Chesley District Community, Chesley
Hillcrest Central, Teeswater
Mildmay-Carrick Public, Mildmay
Paisley Community, Paisley
Itinerant, education centre, and occasional staff

May 13, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
Saugeen District Senior, Port Elgin

Other schools included:
G. C. Huston Public, Southampton
Northport Elementary, Port Elgin
Port Elgin-Saugeen Central, Port Elgin
Arran-Tara Elementary, Tara
Sullivan Community, Desboro

May 20, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
John Diefenbaker Senior, Hanover

Other schools included:
Dawnview Public, Hanover
Hanover Heights Community, Hanover
Normanby Community, Ayton
Spruce Ridge Community, Durham
Egremont Community, Holstein

May 27, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
Kincardine District Senior, Kincardine

Other schools included:
Elgin Market Public, Kincardine
Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public, Kincardine
Lucknow Central Public, Lucknow
Ripley-Huron Community, Ripley
Huron Heights Public, Kincardine

June 3, 2021, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Host school:
Georgian Bay Community, Meaford

Other schools included:
St. Vincent-Euphrasia Elementary, Meaford
Beaver Valley Community, Thornbury
Itinerant, education centre, and occasional staff