Schools in 71 Mississippi counties have reported outbreaks of the coronavirus to the state department of health. 245 teachers and 199 students have tested positive for the virus. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says the Health Department is beginning a new initiative to offer all teachers free COVID-19 tests at any public testing site with no additional requirements. Dr. Dobbs says "We recognize that teachers and school staff are true heroes right now, trying to educate our kids in the midst of the largest, most impactful pandemic in over a century. And we support making sure that all teachers and all staff have ready access to quick turn around lab results for all that they're doing for us."
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid is providing schools access to telehealth throughout the pandemic. Executive Director Drew Snyder says schools could already perform in-house healthcare if the school had a physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant on staff. Now, Snyder says schools just need a telehealth presenter, such as a registered nurse, to be present to access that same level of care. "The chronic care needs of children haven't stopped during the pandemic," says Snyder. "And I think with the telehealth policy, with mental health services in particular, it is going to have a big benefit on allowing the students who have those chronic needs to stay in the classroom, and it doesn't put that additional burden on the parent."
Mississippi's Governor has also signed an education funding bill that funds a teacher incentive program that rewards educators in high performing districts.
