Monroe County will be rolling out rapid PCR testing in the coming days.

An announcement is expected for local school districts as they work to test more students for a quicker return to the classroom.

County leaders say their goal is to have as many students voluntarily tested to minimize the length of time in waiting for test results. It will also ease the burden on families in taking time off work to get their children tested.

The effort to bring a rapid PCR testing plan directly into Monroe County schools has been underway for months.

“We’ve invited every school district in the area to participate and schools are now weighing the benefits of trying to do the testing against all the other needs they need to consider as a school," said Dr. Michael Mendoza, Monroe County health commissioner.

Ontario County schools are already conducting these tests. They are voluntary and the decision is left up to parents whether their kids can take part. Monroe County officials say it will speed up the process of getting COVID results.

“By having more PCR tests ready and available - free of charge - to families, children that are ready to go back to school can go back and be with their classmates and go back to learning," said County Executive Adam Bello. "Parents can go back to work and don’t have to stay home with their sick children, we can get the economy moving and get kids back to school easier.”

The county has also started a pilot PCR testing program in select schools.

“The pilot was really on the side of the schools to operationalize, have the students coming up to the nurses office, working the testing process into the workflow of school nurses. There were a lot of logistics that needed to be worked out," Dr. Mendoza said.

Going forward, Monroe County's rapid PCR testing will be first come, first served as districts decide whether to proceed.

“We are going to try to ensure we’ll be as equitable as possible in distributing these testing machines," Dr. Mendoza said. "Schools are looking at different models and ways to do this during the school day. Others are looking at ways to do it after the school day. We’re largely dependent on staffing and other logistics, we will call the schools to get them where they are and what works best for them.”

Dr. Mendoza said school districts were asked earlier this week to respond to county officials by the end of Thursday as to their testing needs.

13WHAM has reached out to a number of school districts asking if and how they plan to administer rapid testing and are waiting to hear back.