The Government of Saskatchewan announced on Friday its latest update when it comes to COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and back-to-school guidelines. 

The province is developing a rapid test self-administration pilot program to gauge the demand and uptake for self-administered rapid tests for families wanting to screen for COVID-19 on an ongoing basis. 

The pilot program will see rapid tests be provided to families through their schools, along with information about how to self-administer the tests. 

It's anticipated that most of the rapid tests for the pilot program will be given to areas with the highest COVID-19 transmission. 

The government said information about the pilot program will be provided to school divisions soon on how to distribute the tests. 

The Saskatchewan government is also looking at future guidance on “booster shots” to maximize the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Ministry of Health and the SHA are working to establish a standing COVID-19 vaccination plan that will factor in booster shots. 

Meanwhile, back-to-school is right around the corner and the provincial government announced COVID-19 guidelines for school divisions. 

The government is recommending that all students 12 years of age and older should be fully vaccinated. For children under 12, unvaccinated teachers, and support staff, it is recommended they wear masks in common areas such as hallways, washrooms, lunchrooms, libraries, and school buses. 

Once a student is seated in their classroom, masks are no longer recommended. 

There is also no mask recommendation for outdoor activities such as recess or outdoor gym classes. 

The Saskatchewan Health Authority will also offer school-based vaccination clinics similar to those offered at the end of the last school year. 

As an additional measure to increase the reach of vaccinations, children turning 12 in the current year are immediately eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.  This means that individuals born in 2009 can now be vaccinated, regardless of their birth date, at any COVID-19 vaccination site, including pop-up clinics, participating pharmacies, or school-based vaccination clinics.