The NDP is joining Saskatchewan teachers in calling for the expansion and deployment of rapid testing in schools throughout the province.

Education Critic Carla Beck says there’s an urgency to this call with upwards of 70 per cent of new COVID-19 cases in the Regina area that are suspected variants of concern.

“This is no time for the premier to give up his responsibility to provide direction and leadership in our schools,” stated Beck on Thursday. “This call is coming from every corner of the education sector. It needs to be acted upon.”

The NDP noted that over 70 per cent of new cases in the Regina area are suspected variants of concerns; there have been 67 school outbreaks in the last two weeks.

Beck mentioned the government announced an expansion of rapid COVID-19 testing options in February, but said that plan has not yet been introduced in schools after canvassing with members of the education sector.

“We’ve got variants in Regina, Saskatoon, Melville, Yorkton, Grenfell and possibly other places in the province. So this isn’t a ‘wait and see’ situation; this is a rapid action situation,” she added.

Margi Corbett, spokesperson for Safe Schools Saskatchewan.

Margi Corbett, a spokesperson with Safe Schools Saskatchewan, said teachers and other school staff can only do so much to limit the spread of the virus.

“[Teachers] are begging for in-school rapid testing that could have a huge effect on our understanding of what is really happening in these buildings,” stated Corbett. “Teachers are already way overstretched.”

Corbett suggested the government should work to have nurses administer rapid tests in schools rather than teachers and other staff.