San Angelo Independent School District is now the first school district in West Texas to source an Integrated Viral Protection unit, an indoor biodefense system scientifically proven to destroy the virus that causes COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens, according to an SAISD press release.
SAISD installed its first IVP unit earlier this week at Glenn Middle School. The district worked to source and expedite delivery and installation of the unit in the midst of a supply chain shortage and has plans to carry out a targeted, phased approach for more installations with consideration of factors like high COVID-10 positivity rates and feasibility of distancing measures.
IVP’s FDA-approved, heated air filtration technology has been proven to eliminate the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to control indoor spread of the virus.
IVP technology has been installed by leading health-related organizations in Texas including Texas Medical Center’s Methodist Hospital, Steward Healthcare, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, the Texas A&M Health Science Center and Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospitals in San Antonio and Victoria.
The press release stated "The IVP unit is a proactive step and one more mitigation measure by the District to support the overall health and wellness of our students and the San Angelo community. We appreciate our students, staff, families and community partnering to help curtail the spread of COVID-19, and SAISD will continue to work to do our part to benefit the children under our care."
On Thursday, SAISD announced the district would host an optional, free COVID-19 vaccine clinic in partnership with Shannon Medical Center on Friday at San Angelo Stadium.
A message from the SAISD Superintendent Dr. Carl Dethloff about a community effort against COVID-19 is available here.
