Mass testing a success despite a low turnout

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Last week’s mass COVID-19 testing in Perry County didn’t go exactly as planned. Short notice, combined with some difficulties in scheduling and a bit of confusion among the public, meant the local health department, which hosted the event at the behest of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, were unable to use all of the tests provided. Nevertheless, Perry County Health Department director Sylvia Forester called it a success. “Would we have liked to have a larger turnout? Absolutely,” Forester said. “But with as smooth as the event went and with everyone’s help and support, I can’t complain.” Perry County was one of a dozen counties in various parts of the state tapped for the program and received 400 tests intended to provide county residents with the chance to be tested for the virus at no cost and regardless of symptoms. According to DHSS, the program was part of Gov. Mike Parson’s “Show Me Strong Recovery” plan to reopen the state as it recovers from the pandemic. “This is part of our new statewide comprehensive testing strategy,” said DHSS director Dr. Randall Williams. “We’re working to ‘box in’ the virus among areas that were selected in response to requests related to the fact that the area did not have robust testing available, or due to the high prevalence of COVID-19 cases in a rural area. These areas were offered testing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic people.” The governor’s plan, which included allowing most businesses to reopen on Monday, is comprised of four “pillars” — expanding testing capacity and volume; expanding reserves of PPE by opening public and private supply chains; continuing to monitor and, if necessary, expand hospital and health care system capacity, and improving the state’s ability to predict potential outbreaks using Missouri’s public health data. PCHD assistant director Liz House said the mass testing — which used all but 62 of the 400 tests provided — was a vital tool in gauging the effect of the virus on the local community. “Before this event, less than 300 Perry County residents had been tested for COVID-19,” House said. “The mass testing event more than doubled the number of individuals in our county being tested within two days. It also allowed for individuals who were concerned about having or being exposed to the virus to be tested regardless of symptoms or the ability to pay.” The data collected — which included two positive results — will be extremely helpful going forward, especially as the health department dives deeper into the numbers to see if the sample of individuals tested was truly representative of the county’s population, House said. “Of course, more testing gives us a better idea of what is going on in our community and this event allowed for a good snapshot in time of the number of individuals who may have COVID-19, but it was just a snapshot,” House said. “Depending on residents’ ability to social distance and be vigilant, the results could be different if another mass testing event was done in several weeks or even later this year.” Forester said a little more advance notice for the testing might have yielded more response. “I would have loved to have used all 400, as we had to return any unused tests,” Forester said. “While the initial call from the Department of Health and Senior Services regarding the opportunity to host the event came the evening of Wednesday, April 22, we weren’t a for-sure go until Friday. This gave us only the weekend to advertise for it. Plus, the event had to be complete on or prior to Wednesday, April 29. “I think that with more time to get the word out we would have had all of the slots filled.” Uncertainty as to how long it would take to receive results combined with initial advice that those tested should self-isolate until results were returned might have also played a role. “Possibly, but we also knew a lot of people were off work and wouldn’t be returning until the end of the Missouri State-at-Home Order,” Forester said. “Our hope was that employees and employers would have seen this as a great opportunity prior to resuming modified services.” As it turned out, Quest Diagnostics, the private lab DHSS had contracted to process the tests, were able to return all test results by Friday. Individuals were quickly notified. “People had the option to register for a Quest Diagnostics account online to view their results,” Forester said. “Staff at the health department also made a personal call to each individual with their results.” Forester said her department was ready to go if another event like this proved necessary. “It went really well,” Forester said. “We had a great plan that was well executed. Our entire staff, all of our volunteers, and Perry County Emergency Management all came together to make this a successful event.”