UG Health Department has longer testing hours, accepts walk-ins
The Unified Government Health Department has expanded its COVID-19 testing, and Wyandotte County residents who have symptoms may drive through or walk in from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 619 Ann Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
No appointment is necessary, according to the health department.
Today the UG COVID-19 webpage at 4:50 p.m. reported 431 positive cases and 45 COVID-19 related deaths in Wyandotte County. There were 48 hospitalizations reported, with 102 recoveries. It was an increase of one death since Monday evening.
There was one additional death today, at the Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation facility, bringing the number of deaths there to 25, according to the Health Department. Riverbend makes up 55 percent of the Wyandotte County COVID-19 deaths and 23 percent of the state of Kansas COVID-19 deaths.
Dr. Erin Corriveau, deputy medical officer for the health department, said expanded testing here was important.
“Ramping up testing capacity in Wyandotte means we will get a clearer picture of what we are dealing with,” Dr. Corriveau said in a news release.
“We wanted to remove barriers to testing, like removing the need for an appointment and opening up testing criteria, allowing more people to access testing.
“More testing will not only give community members information to protect their loved ones and neighbors – it will also help us see where and how COVID-19 is spreading,” she said. “This is critical information to help us stop the spread of this disease in our community.”
According to the health department, testing is available, at no charge, for Wyandotte County residents who have experienced any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 within the past 48 hours.
Symptoms may include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath-difficulty breathing, body aches, sore throat, sudden lack of sense of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhea and tiredness.
Testing is provided regardless of immigration status, health coverage or ability to pay, according to the health department.
Residents who prefer to set up an appointment may confidentially report their symptoms online at wycokck.org/COVID-19 or by calling 3-1-1. Someone from the Health Department will follow up to set up a testing appointment and provide further guidance.