New York is sending millions of COVID-19 testing kits to school districts across the state in order to keep students in school after they return from winter break, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday.

The state has ordered 37 million test kits at this time and more than five million have already arrived this week, with an additional six million tests arriving through Monday, according to Director of State Operations Kathryn Garcia, in order to get tests distributed to schools on a regular basis over the next few weeks.

“We want to make sure we have enough supply so in the case where one of the classmates tests positive, everybody can take a test kit home in their backpack, come back the next day if they have a negative test and get tested again in a couple of days,” Hochul said. “This is how, we believe, listening to the experts, that this is the safest way to keep children in schools.”

The state will also be supplying counties with tests and keeping in touch with county leaders, school boards and superintendents to ensure they have the necessary supplies to stay open.

“It’s just not an option to keep our children home after what they had to go through last time,” Hochul said.