Drive-through COVID-19 testing expansion includes Rooks County

In a media release last Wednesday, April 29th, a mobile COVID-19 testing initiative has been launched in Kansas to set up drive-thru sites in certain communities that haven’t had access to testing—one of which includes Rooks County.

In addition to Rooks, mobile units will be traveling to four other Kansas counties: Reno, Butler, Scott and Saline counties on a rotating basis each week to test those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. In addition, all health care providers and first responders can be tested whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms. An appointment for testing can be made at www.DOINEEDaCOVID-19test.com, but on-site scheduling also will be available. The site is supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth and state officials.

The COVID-19 testing for Rooks County will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting, at Webster State Park, 1140 10 Road, Stockton, KS 67669 (enter park and take the first left).

Locations of the other four testing sites include:
• Reno County, State Fairgrounds.
• Butler County, El Dorado State Park.
• Scott County, Scott Lake State Park.
• Saline County, KHP Training Academy, 2025 E. Iron Ave., Salina.

“Testing is important to re-opening the country and the state, and we are thankful to Walmart and eTrueNorth for working with us to bring mobile testing to communities in Kansas,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said. “As we prepare to implement less restrictive measures, we know we will still be working to overcome the pandemic for the next 12 to18 months, so widespread testing will be a key part of our ability to support our economy and our state.”

Additional testing information:

• The drive-thru site will test anyone who may be exhibiting symptoms of the virus. In addition, the site is available to all health care workers and first responders, whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms.

• Appointments must be made through eTrueNorth’s online portal at www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com, which will screen individuals to ensure they meet CDC eligibility for testing. On-site scheduling will be available for those who are not able to schedule online. For questions regarding testing, call 800-635-8611.

• Those being tested will need to stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test site is not available to walk-ups; those being tested must be in a car.

• The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained medical professional to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and then dropped in the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-through site.

• eTrueNorth, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested and applicable Departments of Health.

• The site will be staffed by volunteers, including Walmart healthcare professionals and eTrueNorth team members.

• While individuals who are tested are awaiting results, please follow CDC guidelines and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in your home and community.

For everyone’s safety and for the privacy of those being tested, media should not attempt to enter the testing site.