Governor highlights importance of expanding COVID-19 testing in Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
As the governor said the data is looking good for the state of Missouri on Wednesday, he expressed the importance of continuing to expand testing across the state.
Gov. Mike Parson said a multi-agency group has outlined top priorities that the state needs to be focused on in regards to testing.
Some of those priorities include early identification of outbreaks, rapidly deploying testing resources to local areas and providing testing for health care workers, first responders and other essential workers, Parson said.
"Just as critical as the testing supply themselves, the support functions around test collections, the staffing, the PPE, and the need for contact tracing are critical," Parson said.
Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Dr. Randall Williams said testing capacity continues to expand in the state. As of Wednesday, he said the state could perform 8,800 tests daily, equalling more than 60,000 per week.
The state is doubling down on its boxing-in strategy. If one person tests positive at a high-risk facility, like a meat processing plant or long-term care home, everyone at the facility will be tested for COVID-19.
Williams expects the numbers of new cases to go down. He said the department will then go back to those high-risk facilities and test a random group to catch potential outbreaks and monitor the spread.
This comes as the state has also expanded testing to people who are experiencing symptoms and people who fear they may have been exposed to the virus.
"It is broad, it is widespread and it is going to be incredibly robust," Dr. Williams said about testing in Missouri.
Dr. Williams also explained the state is working on "prevalence testing." He said the department would go to communities throughout the state and test groups of people representative of the demographics of the area. Both normal and antibody testing will be used.
He said this will give the state a look at just how COVID-19 spreads throughout different communities.
That testing could begin in the next three weeks.
"We think that gives us the confidence to open up the economy and keep people healthy," Dr. Williams said. "To have a good economy you need healthy people and to have healthy people you need a good economy."
