Testing students for COVID-19 starts Monday for the districts that fall within Onondaga County's yellow zone. 

County Executive Ryan McMahon says they have five teams that will be performing the rapid tests at 50 or so schools each week. They're going to start with elementary, then work their way to middle school, and high schools will go last.

The test they're doing is going to be the smaller nasal swab that is less invasive. It only needs a sample from the inner lining of the nostril.

Each district has to have at least 20% participation, but McMahon says so far the response has been good 

"The good news on that is parents and teachers. I heard teachers as well want to stay in-person learning. And so that is something that if the commitment was there from the districts, we've made our commitment that we will rearrange the deck in what we do and focus in on that being our priority," said McMahon Thursday.