Saskatchewan schools are to receive 100-thousand rapid tests kits from the provincial government.

In a news release, Education Minister Dustin Duncan states that the rapid tests will provide an additional measure to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the school systems.

Schools will work with their local medical health officers to determine when testing is appropriate, and they will work with parents and caregivers to ensure consent is in place.

Rapid testing will not be administered by teachers or school staff, but by laypeople who have completed a training program through the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Rapid testing for COVID-19 in schools could begin as early as this week.