Cherokee Nation has received 6,000 rapid tests for COVID-19 from the Indian Health Service. It's part of the Tribe's plan to allow limited in-person learning and protect their elderly.
The new test developed by Abbot BinaxNOW can give positive or negative test results in as little as 15 minutes and can be done without laboratory.
Health officials with Cherokee Nation says this new testing technology will allow for limited in-person learning at the Sequoyah Schools and prevent outbreaks among elders and others more vulnerable to catching the virus.
AbbotBinnax Now is antigen-based, a less accurate method of testing than PCR tests, but federal health officials say it's still an important tool to curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Brian Hale with Cherokee Nation Health Services said it's part of the effort to keep people safe.
"We believe that as we expand our testing, into more and more areas and have more people trained on how to use these tests that we'll have usage to support additional allocation."
As of Tuesday, Cherokee Nation health officials reported more than 3,100 cases of COVID 19.
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