'All hands on deck': TVDSB sorting 146,000 Rapid Test Kits to get them to students ASAP
Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) staff volunteers are busy unboxing, sorting and packaging 146,000 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits in order to get them into the hands of students.
“It's all hands on deck," says Cathy Lynd, superintendent of business for TVDSB.
The kits arrived Friday afternoon in boxes of 20 but with only one set of instructions, meaning it would take a lot of help to sort them into packs of two for each student.
The board worked through the weekend to get their logistics in place.
"We engaged our printing department and they're creating 70,000 copies of instructions and labels," says Lynd.Terri Manning is one of the TVDSB staff volunteers in London, Ont. unboxing and sorting the 146,00 Rapid Antigen Tests, Jan. 18, 2022. (Brent Lale / CTV News)"We ordered 100,000 Ziploc bags from one of our vendors and they were able to be delivered on Monday so that we have people picking up the test kits today [Tuesday]. We have two vehicles every 15 minutes going to our warehouse to pick them up. People are masked, we are providing people with hand sanitizer and nitrile gloves to be able to do this either from their work location or from their home."
Lynd estimates around 50 volunteers will be working over the next few days, each of them given a case, which contains 1,080 kits.
"We've had overwhelming support from our staff," says Lynd.
"They're reorganizing their duties and helping out as much as they can during the day and in the evenings. Our warehouse staff is working full out to get these kits out. We're hoping that is going to take about 1,000 total hours, but we'll have a better idea of how long each kit takes as we get started."The TVDSB Printing department in London, Ont. had to create 70,000 copies of instructions to put in the COVID-19 rapid test kit bags to be given to students, Jan. 18, 2022. (Brent Lale / CTV News)A letter from the ministry will be going out to families later this week, explaining the purpose of the RAT's and when they are to be used.
There is also a number of families in the TVDSB that don't speak English. Staff have translated the instructions in 18 different languages and put them on the board’s website.
The London District Catholic School Board says staff were able to process 32,000 kits and get them out to elementary students. They are still awaiting 20,000 more to be given to the high school students.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.