Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
New York City will send COVID test kits home with public school students ahead of midwinter break
By
Sophia Chang
Published Feb 16, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Sophia Chang
Published Feb 16, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York City will send home two COVID tests with every public school student on Friday ahead of the week-long midwinter break, but students won’t be required to show a negative test result to return to class on Monday February 28th.
“To keep our school communities safe after the midwinter recess, we strongly encourage all students to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to school on February 28, regardless of vaccination status,” the Department of Education said in a letter to parents that will be distributed Friday.
The DOE asks that parents test their schoolchildren twice: the first time on the evening of Saturday, February 26th, and the second time on the evening of Sunday, February 27th.
Students who present negative results and feel well may return to school on Monday the 28th. Families can use a PCR test, a lab-based rapid test, or a home test kit, like the ones to be distributed to students this week.
While all students in 3K, pre-K and K-12 will receive test kits, the DOE said any student who has recovered from a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the past 90 days does not have to take a test and can return to school on February 28th.
Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul said the state would distribute enough home tests for all school districts in New York to issue to their students before winter break, in hopes of preventing another surge in COVID cases like the omicron variant which ripped through New York City and schools around the winter holidays.
Hochul urged parents to test their students twice before returning to school after the break, and announced that if case numbers remained low among children, she would revisit the current statewide mask mandate for schools.
“After the break, after we have kids tested, we are going to make an assessment that first week of March,” Hochul said at a February 9th press conference, adding that there is a "very strong possibility" the state’s school mask mandate could be lifted then.
The DOE said the COVID test kits have printed instructions included and there are instructional videos in 11 different languages posted online at schools.nyc.gov/HomeRapidTestKits.
Students who test positive are to stay home and isolate - for students in kindergarten and up, the quarantine period is five days and and they can return to school on the sixth day if they are symptom-free. For students in 3K and pre-K, the quarantine period is still ten days.
Tagged
mask mandate
COVID-19
coronavirus
schools
Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
The company blamed ‘macro-economic headwinds.’ The co-founder is suing over compensation.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 11:29 a.m. ET
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
The Justice Department sued demonstrators who protested at a synagogue, under a law aimed at shielding abortion clinics.
By
Willow Higgins
News
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
The Justice Department sued demonstrators who protested at a synagogue, under a law aimed at shielding abortion clinics.
By
Willow Higgins
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
By
Rosemary Misdary
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
By
Liam Quigley
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .