BY SYDNEY HOOVER
Around 275 people were tested for the coronavirus during Eudora’s first asymptomatic testing event Sunday.
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health set up six mass testing events throughout the week before Thanksgiving, including two at the Eudora Community Center. The testing events were specifically for those who may be asymptomatic to get a PCR saliva test.
Douglas County Health Promotion Specialist Sarah Hartsig said all 240 drive-thru appointments at the Community Center Sunday were filled, and some cars had multiple people who received tests.
Eudora will host a second testing event from 1-5 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Center through Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health. Hartsig said as of Monday afternoon, around 75% of the appointments Wednesday were full. Appointments can be scheduled here.
Wednesday will be the final mass testing event in Douglas County ahead of Thanksgiving. The county planned other testing events in Lawrence, Lecompton and Baldwin City throughout last weekend.
“These mass testing events in our community will help us to identify people who might be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 and prevent them from spreading it to others, especially those who might be especially vulnerable, such as individuals over 65 years of age or those with certain medical conditions,” said Linda Craig, public health director of clinic services, in a news release.
The PCR saliva tests were provided through CARES Act funding received by LMH Health, which allotted 55,000 tests for mass community testing, school surveillance testing and first responder surveillance testing.
Reach reporter Sydney Hoover at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
To donate to support our community journalism, please go to this link: tinyurl.com/y4u7stxj