Cloud County to expand Covid testing

Cloud County Health Department administrator Brandi Bray announced Tuesday morning that 46 COVID-19 tests have been collected in the county since March 17.
There have been three positive tests confirmed and 39 negative tests. There are four tests pending.
Cloud County Health Center has collected 28 of the tests and 18 have been collected at other facilities.
Two of the three positive cases in the county have recovered. The third continues to recover.
Cloud County has now gone more than two weeks without a new positive test.
The Health Department was notified of its first positive COVID-19 case on April 1. The second positive test was on April 4 and the third was on April 6.
Bray reported to the Cloud County board of commissioners on Monday that the state of Kansas expanded testing in Cloud County and the surrounding area.
Beginning Monday, the Health Department and the Family Care Care are authorized to perform up to 50 tests per day, five days a week for the next four to six week. There is no charge for the tests that will be done from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Patients who meet the criteria to be tested will drive up and be swabbed without having to get out of their vehicles.
Family Care Center patients can contact their health care provider to determine if they meet the Kansas Department of Health and Environment criteria to be tested.
The Health Department will handle calls from other patients in Cloud County and the surrounding area. Information will be gathered, and then the Family Care Center will be notified to set up a time for an appointment for the drive-thru testing.
Those being tested will be instructed to drive to a certain area at Cloud County Health Center  and remain in their vehicles to receive the test. A health care worker will take the sample through the care window.
Persons tested are asked to return home and self-isolate while awaiting the results.
The testing is only available to area residents experiencing a fever of more than 100 degrees plus any two of the following symptoms: chills, shivering, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) and sudden loss of smell or taste.
Screening will be conducted over the phone when a testing appointment is made.
Bray said the turnaround time on test results has been two to four days.
The state of Kansas is providing the personal protective equipment to Cloud County to expand testing at no cost.
Bray said that the expanded testing will prove to be beneficial in making decisions about easing restrictions currently in place.
“It will help us know the presence of COVID-19 in our county and our region, and provide data to help us safely open the economy,” Bray said.
The Health Department is asking people to continue to practice social distancing to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.