COVID-19 testing Archives

Missouri health department to resume COVID-19 community testing next week

September 10, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx speaks to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams on August 18, 2020 (photo Office of the Governor)

Missouri’s state health department will again offer community testing from Sept. 14-23 in 8 counties: Boone County, Nodaway County, Ralls County, St. Charles County, Madison County, Perry County, Jefferson County and St. Francois County. The Department of Health and Senior Services and Missouri National Guard will do the testing, working with local public health agencies.

Missourians can register now for these events at health.mo.gov/communitytest.

CARES Act money will pay for this community testing, with some counties pitching in some of their own CARES Act money.

Governor Parson, in a press briefing Wednesday, said he is urging counties to use that money”for testing and contact tracing, I think it’s crucial to keep these schools open and make things safe.”

In Boone County, for example, a continual surge in COVID-19 cases prompted Columbia Public Schools to revert to online classes to start the semester. The hometown of Mizzou and other colleges saw an increase of 38 new cases since yesterday of residents 18 to 22 years old.

To be tested next week, Missouri residency is the only requirement; individuals do not have to live in the county in which they are tested, and they do not have to display symptoms. DHSS is also providing a self-administered nasal swab at the specified sites for individuals who would rather do the sampling themselves.

Those without access to online registration can call the Missouri COVID-19 hotline for registration assistance at 877-435-8411. Translation services are available.

The most recent round of community tests covered more than 50 counties from April through July.

Parson’s Tuesday June 9 briefing: Do not defund police, dramatic increases in COVID-19 weekly testing in Missouri (FULL VIDEO)

June 9, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

Governor Mike Parson addressed calls to “defund the police” after two weeks of national protests against police practices, sparked by the video of the gruesome death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police. Parson was joined by State Highway Patrol Col. Eric Olsen on that topic. Parson also paid tribute to retired St. Louis police officer David Dorn, who was shot-to-death in downtown St. Louis as he protected a pawn shop from looters.

Missouri Medicaid Director Todd Richardson and Missouri DHSS Dir. Randall Williams updated COVID-19 testing rates and contact tracing plans statewide.

The governor’s next briefing is Thursday afternoon, and he will discuss further plans to open the Missouri economy.

Kehoe praises Missouri’s recovery plan; emphasizes importance of expanding COVID-19 testing capability (AUDIO)

May 6, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s lieutenant governor is pleased with the state’s “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan,” and says residents are ready to return to work. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) says the state has safely re-opened.

Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (right) applauds as Governor Mike Parson delivers his State of the State Address on January 15, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“This is a gradual, phased-in opening, but it really does set the tone for us moving forward both economically, socially, etc.,” Kehoe says.

He notes that expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity is a top priority for Governor Mike Parson, and is one of the four essential pillars of the plan.

Kehoe says the state now has the capability of performing about 50,000 tests each week, between the state health lab in Jefferson City and at least 15 private labs and participating health care institutions.

The deadly coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on Missouri tourism, impacting attractions, hotels and restaurants across the state. It’s impacting Branson, the Lake of the Ozarks, St. Louis, Kansas City and many smaller communities.

Kehoe, who serves on the state’s Tourism Commission, says they have voted to form a special task force.

“We’ve put together 16 companies from around the state that are both private and public, so we have everything from state parks to the Aquarium in St. Louis to convention and visitors bureaus in Kansas City,” says Kehoe.

Other representatives include the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and convention and visitors bureaus at the Lake of the Ozarks and Springfield. Kehoe says Missouri’s tourism industry is ready to highlight state tourism assets, and emphasizes the importance of keeping visitors and employees safe.

Governor Parson traveled to Bass Pro Shops in Springfield on Monday morning, to discuss the re-opening. Bass Pro is one of the biggest companies in Springfield.

Parson and Kehoe also note that another pillar in the recovery plan is the expansion of reserves of personal protective equipment (PPE), by opening public and private supply chains.

As of Friday evening, Parson says the state had ordered about $40 million worth of PPE and had already shipped two million pieces of PPE to local partners, including 300,000 N95 respirator masks, 450,000 face shields and 200,000 surgical masks.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says there are now 8,916 confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri, along with 377 deaths.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, which was recorded on May 4, 2020:

Pneumonia and flu have now killed more than 1,500 this season in Missouri; DHSS battling multiple health threats

April 30, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri health officials have been diverting more resources to COVID-19 testing across the state.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) logo (image courtesy of DHSS)

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ (DHSS) latest report highlights the health battle the department is facing on multiple fronts, from the deadly coronavirus pandemic to both flu and pneumonia.

DHSS confirms to Missourinet that the Missouri State Public Health Lab has temporarily suspended routine flu testing, to divert resources to COVID-19 testing.

This has been a deadly flu season in Missouri, and there have now been 112,965 lab-positive influenza cases in the state this season.

There have been 78 flu-associated deaths in Missouri, so far this season. DHSS says there have been 1,541 pneumonia and flu deaths in Missouri together this season, with pneumonia being the largest killer, by far.

Missouri has seen 13 flu outbreaks, since last fall.

The department’s importance has been highlighted daily at Governor Mike Parson’s media briefings on COVID-19, where DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams frequently joins the governor.

DHSS says there are now 7,562 confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri, along with 329 deaths.

Governor Parson says that as Missouri prepares to reopen on Monday, expanding COVID-19 testing capacity is one of the four essential pillars of the state’s “Show Me Strong Recovery”

The governor has also called for expanding the reserves of personal protective equipment (PPE) by opening public and private supply chains.

Governor Parson says between the state health lab and at least 15 private labs and participating health care institutions, about 50,000 tests could be performed each week.