The Importance of Testing Children for COVID

With the omicron variant of COVID-19 now spreading rapidly across the globe, a complete return to normalcy once again seems very far away. In the meantime, though, it is essential that we keep up the fight and continue taking every possible measure to slow the virus’s spread. One such measure that is more important than many realize is testing children for COVID before they return to school. In this article, we’ll discuss why testing school children for COVID can help save lives in addition to covering how to schedule a COVID-19 testing appointment with St. Jude Labs.

Why Testing School Children for COVID Helps Slow the Virus’s Spread

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under the age of 18 have accounted for just 0.27% of all reported COVID-19 deaths. Stats such as this have led many to believe that COVID-19 is not a serious concern for children still attending school. However, while it is true that the virus does not tend to hit the young and healthy nearly as hard as it does older patients, that doesn’t stop infected children from spreading the virus to others.

In fact, children are often more prone to spreading COVID-19 since they are often asymptotic. Those who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 are more likely to stay home and take efforts to avoid spreading the virus; those who are not showing any symptoms, though, are more likely to continue about their normal lives and spread the virus to others without even realizing it.

When you combine this with the fact that children in school are exposed to a larger number of people on a daily basis than most adults, it becomes clear why it is so important to test children for COVID-19 before they return to school. At St. Jude Labs, we offer COVID PCR testing that is able to detect the virus even in patients that are not showing any symptoms, providing parents with complete peace of mind that their child is COVID-free before they send them back to school. We also offer antibody testing that is able to determine whether or not a child has been infected in the past and thus whether or not they still have some natural immunity.

With the holiday season now upon us, there’s no better time to have your child tested for COVID-19. In addition to ensuring that they are not infected with the virus before they return to school for the spring semester, having your child tested over the holiday break can also ensure that they don’t spread the virus to other family members during holiday gatherings.

As schools across the country continue to reopen their doors in spite of the fact that COVID-19 is continuing to spread and mutate into new variants, it is now more important than ever for us to remain vigilant about ensuring that our schools don’t become breeding grounds for the virus. Testing children before they return to school is one vital part of this mission, and it’s something that we at St. Jude Labs are proud to help make possible.

Schedule a COVID-19 Testing Appointment With St. Jude Labs Today

If you would like to schedule either a COVID PCR test, a COVID antibody test, or both for you or your child, we at St. Jude Labs are able to help. We offer an industry-leading 24-36 hour turnaround time on our COVID-19 tests, allowing you to know for certain in little time at all whether you or your child have contracted the virus. Before your child returns to school for the spring semester, be sure to do your part to help keep them and those they come in contact with safe and healthy by scheduling an appointment for COVID-19 testing with St.Jude Labs today.