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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — After weeks of increasing COVID numbers in Massachusetts Schools, there's a sign the current surge may be on its way out.
Thursday, the DOE put out its latest weekly data, and the numbers marked a near 33% decline in the number of positive COVID tests. In total, 12,729 cases were reported by schools in the past week: 9,803 students and 2,926 staff members.
The prior week, 18,968 cases among students and staff were reported.
The drop comes as superintendents around the state have now been notified they'll need to rethink COVID testing this fall.
DESE commissioner Jeff Riley sent a letter saying "the state will no longer supply self-tests or other COVID testing services to schools and districts," though schools will still be able to purchase tests through the state contract.
For any testing programs schools do choose to finance, Commissioner Riley says "DESE and DPH strongly recommend that schools and districts ... limit that program to symptomatic rapid testing only."
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