Newman Regional Health isn’t immune to the heavy demand for COVID-19 testing that’s come along with the massive influx of new cases this month.
As part of a lengthy update on KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Thursday, Chief Executive Officer Bob Wright said the hospital is at its busiest point since this time last year with up to 90 people getting tested a day. Given the volume, the hospital is prioritizing its test availability.
Wright says symptomatic residents can call 620-343-6801 or their provider. There will be a phone screening process and residents will get scheduled for a test if they qualify.
Lyon County Public Health says limited supplies have severely curtailed its ability to serve the county. Until further notice, Public Health is now rapid-testing first responders — EMS, law enforcement, healthcare workers and pharmacy workers — and residents needing tests to confirm they can emerge from isolation. Test results may take up to five days to return for non-rapid tests.
Public Health is not ending free testing for residents, and people wanting to use Public Health for tests need to schedule appointments online at www.publichealth.lyoncounty.org.
Healthier Lyon County has cleared all January test clinics from its calendar with its supply chain from the state now out of stock. There is currently no word on when those will resume. Residents who are disabled, homebound or without transportation can call Healthier Lyon County at 620-208-3218 and kits will be delivered, but they must also be symptomatic and have a “true” COVID exposure. The supply of home test kits is described as “very limited.”
KDHE says it’s taking steps to improve access to testing, especially with daily caseloads about six times where they were a month ago. Besides reminding residents of the free tests through www.covidtests.gov, it’s also working to increase testing at schools, long-term care facilities and community partners like pharmacies, county health departments and hospitals. It’s also working to identify more partner labs to increase capacity and reduce result turnaround times. It has also added several mass testing sites, although none are currently scheduled across the KVOE listening area.
For more information about testing locations and operation hours, go online to www.knowbeforeyougoKS.com.
