© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KBIA’s Health & Wealth Desk covers the economy and health of rural and underserved communities in Missouri and beyond. The team produces a weekly radio segment, as well as in-depth features and regular blog posts. The reporting desk is funded by a grant from the University of Missouri, and the Missouri Foundation for Health.Contact the Health & Wealth desk.

MU Health Care Opens Walk-In Testing Clinics as COVID Cases Increase

Nathan Lawrence
/
KBIA

As of Friday, July 16, 2021, Boone County had 614 active cases of COVID-19. In response, MU Health Care began offering walk-in clinics today for those who need COVID-19 tests.

“My advice is to continue to wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands frequently.”
Mary Beck, MU Health Care Chief Nursing Officer

The new walk-in testing clinics are for those who need a test prior to travel, have a known exposure, are asymptomatic OR have very mild symptoms of COVID-19.

Mary Beck, the chief nursing officer for MU Health Care, said the clinics are about making sure people have convenient and easy access to testing – as community case numbers continue to climb.

“We just know with the increased prevalence and that we have steadily seen our numbers go up for people wanting testing,” Beck said.

She said that those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will still need to get an order for a COVID-19 test, and they can obtain one from their primary care physician, through a virtual visit or by visiting either Mizzou Urgent Care or one of the Mizzou Quick Care locations.

At this time, Beck said they have adequate amounts of testing supplies – though they are monitoring it daily – and added that if the need for tests continue to increase, they will consider reopening the drive through testing that existed earlier in the pandemic.

“You know, there's still people that are asymptomatic that carried in can spread the virus, it's very transmissible,” Beck said.

Just last week, Columbia/Boone County Health & Human Services announced that it will not be able to contact every person who has tested positive or been exposed due to the sheer number of new cases being recorded daily.

So, Beck said to remember to wash your hands, social distance and wear masks around everyone, especially if you chose not to quarantine after a possible exposure because: “those are the three things that we can all do to protect each other.”

The walk-in clinics will be located at the South Providence Medical Building and the Battle Avenue Medical Building, and are open daily – Monday through Friday – from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Rebecca Smith is an award-winning reporter and producer for the KBIA Health & Wealth Desk. Born and raised outside of Rolla, Missouri, she has a passion for diving into often overlooked issues that affect the rural populations of her state – especially stories that broaden people’s perception of “rural” life.