Lest readers assume this is typical, where I live at present (middle of the US) testing is efficient. Our kids' school runs their own rapid tests also. You can in addition buy saliva PCR tests from many vendors including Costco. These take 3 days max from purchase to result.
Right. I had to get a Covid-19 test in October as part of groundwork for another procedure. I could've gotten a rapid test that gave results same day, or the PCR test. I got the PCR test (because more accurate) and had results back within 2 days.
In my town, if a child receives a positive test result, the whole classroom is under quarantine.
So it's not pointless in that sense. You know who might have been exposed.