The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) recently mandated that schools conduct COVID-19 testing on unvaccinated students and employees on-site, KOB 4 reported.

The NMPED has established a weekly target of testing at least 25% of unvaccinated students and staff, which according to KOB 4, amounts to more than 22,000 students weekly or 150 students every day in Albuquerque Public Schools (APS).

However, with approximately 88,000 children returning to the classroom this year,  KOB 4 reports there is still no vaccine verification system in place at APS.

"The vaccinated are carriers of the virus too and are still getting sick. Homeschooling or neighborhood co-ops sound like a great option," Brett Kokinadis, 2nd Vice-Chair of Santa Fe Republican Party, wrote in a tweet.

Additionally, the district has not disclosed how many kids may fall into the unvaccinated testing category.

Currently, Rio Rancho schools require students to show proof of vaccination in order to avoid being required to wear a mask.

APS, however, mandates masks for all individuals indoors, regardless of vaccination status.