Long lines form Tuesday for COVID-19 testing

Mass COVID-19 testing began Tuesday in Poplar Bluff, with more than 650 people expected to take part through Thursday.

“Today and tomorrow, we have a quota of 250, and on Thursday, we have a quota of 150,” said Missouri Army National Guard Capt. Erika Haley.

Haley is overseeing operations of the 29th Multi-functional Medical Battalion while it is in Poplar Bluff.

Members of the Missouri Army National Guard check in those scheduled Tuesday morning for COVID-19 testing at the Libla Family Sports Complex.DAR/Paul Davis

The group of 38 guardsmen, including eight from the Missouri Air National Guard, are on hand to perform the free COVID-19 testing.

“We have medics and support personnel from all over the state of Missouri,” said Haley, who noted her unit has “done 25 to 30 sites prior to this.”

Free testing was available until 6 p.m. Tuesday, and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.

The COVID-19 test is a simple nasal swab procedure, taking only a few seconds.DAR/Paul Davis

The testing is a joint effort between county and state officials , said Butler County Health Department Administrator Emily Goodin, and is “open to anybody who lives in the State of Missouri. There are no criteria.

“We partnered with Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers and also with DHSS (Department of Health and Senior Services) to come down here for mass testing in Butler County.”

Tents and equipment were set up at the Libla Family Sports Complex on the campus of Three Rivers College to conduct the testing, and before the scheduled start time of 10 a.m. Tuesday, more than 50 vehicles already were in line.

A long line of people waits to be tested for COVID-19 Tuesday morning outside the Libla Family Sports Complex.DAR/Paul Davis

“We started early because our line was all the way down to the end of the road,” Haley said. “It doesn’t really surprise us, though, because this has been identified as more of a hot spot and DHSS has directed us back here because of the increase.”

Those seeking the testing are urged to preregister online at health.mo.gov/communitytest, since the number of available tests is limited. A link to the registration site also is available on the Butler County Health Department’s Facebook page.

“They register online, check in and pull in and do the swabs,” said Goodin.

Army National Guard Spc. Wesley Givens performs a nasal swab test Tuesday on a person as part of the free community testing this week at the Libla Family Sports Complex in Poplar Bluff.DAR/Paul Davis

The procedure is easy, Haley said, but it may take some time, depending on the size of the line.

“Once they get in line, we have individuals that will ask them if they’re registered or not. Those not pre-registered will pull off to the side because that (registration) actually expedites their process,” Haley said.

Once in line, guardsmen will get each individual’s paperwork, ask questions about any signs or symptoms they may be having and then usher the vehicle into a tent for the test.

“They’ll come in the tent. It’s a nasal pharyngeal swab that takes five to 10 seconds,” Haley said. “It’s very similar to the flu swab, but goes in just a little bit farther.”

Under ideal conditions, she said, the entire process takes 10 to 15 minutes.

The tests will be sent to Quest Diagnostics, a private laboratory, for evaluation, Haley said.

“Once they pick these up, generally it’s 24 to 72 hours, but it can be anywhere from five to 10 days because there’s such an increase in testing in the state right now,” Haley explained.

Only positive tests will be reported to the local health department, Haley noted.

“They get reported to the health department, and based on what county they’re in, the health department then works with the individuals to quarantine them,” she said.

That procedure, Goodin noted, is different from testing done at the local health department.

“At the health department, we get all test results, positive and negative,” Goodin said. “If they get tested at the health department, we will call them even if it’s negative.”

The recent increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, Goodin said, likely is the result of two things.

“I believe it’s mainly increased testing, and people are going back to work,” Goodin said, “but the No. 1 cause is increased testing, especially since we have no criteria.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Butler County had seen 111 positive COVID-19 cases, with 68 recovered, one hospitalized, one death and 38 in self isolation.