KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri is leveraging its expanded testing capacity to combat areas of intense COVID-19 clusters.
Cases in Buchanan County have more than tripled in the last two weeks to 43, so the state Department of Health and Senior Services is offering tests to anyone who worked in close proximity to a pair of patients who recently tested positive for the virus.
“The new testing strategy will allow positive patients to be identified and isolated to prevent further spread in the community,” the health department said in announcing the roll out of the expanded testing strategy.
At least 2,800 tests will be available in the St. Joseph area. The tests will be processed by a commercial lab as well as at the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory.
“We now have the testing capability to go in and immediately start testing at food processing facilities when a positive test is received,” Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams said in a statement. “This is an example of our strategy going forward of using our increased testing capabilities to limit the spread of infection.”
Missouri also plans to roll out rapid testing beginning Friday at emerging clusters in Moniteau and Saline counties, state officials announced Thursday during Gov. Mike Parson’s daily briefing.
Many health experts view expanded testing as critical to any effort to reopen state economies, which Missouri plans to do beginning May 4.
