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Thousands of COVID tests for Chicago Public Schools students and staff members have been deemed “invalid” as the district prepares for a return to classrooms following the winter break.

Even as cases of the coronavirus soar and worries about the omicron variant prompt concerns among parents, Chicago Public Schools plans to bring its more than 300,000 students back to the classroom Monday, insisting its COVID-19 procedures will keep students and staff safe.

Chicago Public Schools students head back to the classroom Monday amid a COVID surge. City officials lay out plans to keep students and staff safe. NBC 5’s Regina Waldroup reports.

The deadline for parents to return COVID test kits for Chicago Public Schools students during the winter break has been extended at some locations.

After Chicago Public Schools reported its highest weekly COVID-19 case count earlier this month, the district announced plans to distribute about 150,000 take-home test kits to schools in communities hit hard by the pandemic.

With newfound concern of rising COVID-19 cases heading into the new year, Chicago Public Schools issued a message to families Sunday, encouraging students take a COVID test before classes resume.