Cole County begins to divvy out CARES Act funding as some hospitals tighten COVID-19 testing policies

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

While Cole County officials are starting to consider where millions of dollars of CARES Act funding will go, some local health leaders are looking to expand testing.

Chezney Schulte, the communicable disease coordinator for the Cole County Health Department, said the the positivity rate in Cole County continues to go up because hospitals are starting to conserve tests.

"Our hospital and our doctors are really trying to preserve those tests as we have heard of some of the shortages in the area," Schulte said. "The individuals getting tested really are those symptomatic people and those who have had close contact, almost those who we would expect to test positive."

A spokesperson for SSM Health St. Mary's said the hospital has tightened up testing procedures in the past two weeks to only test those those who are symptomatic or patients who have an upcoming procedure or surgery scheduled at the facility.

"Testing capacity is limited in many areas around the country. Consequently, we are working with other providers in the community to look for ways to make testing more readily available," Jessica Royston said in a statement. "Our commitment is to promoting and preserving health in our community, so of course this work is very important to us."

While Royston couldn't provide the current testing capacity of St. Mary's, it has completed more than 8,200 tests between the system's hospitals in Jefferson City and Mexico since testing began in March.

Capital Region Medical Center is following the same guideline on deciding whether or not to test someone for COVID-19. A spokesperson for the center said they have enough tests right now to provide to those with doctor's orders.

"While acquiring adequate testing supplies is a concern and sourcing test kits has been problematic at times, currently, CRMC is equipped to provide testing to those with physician's orders," Lindsay Huhman said in a statement. "CRMC's laboratory staff and supply chain teams are working incredibly hard to procure necessary supplies for the test kits."

Meanwhile, the Cole County Commission is starting to look at where the nearly $9 million of federal CARES act funding should go.

Cole County Commissioner Sam Bushman said the commission has finished its first phase of distribution. This included money to schools and repaying city and county departments for COVID-19 related expenses.

The next phase will involve an application for funding, which Bushman said may be ready in the next two weeks. He said the commission hasn't been in contact with the hospitals about their need for the funds.

"I would assume that they would probably be applying for some (CARES Act) money to help cover the cost of testing because I know it's very expensive and you test everyone," Bushman said. "It costs a lot of money."

State leaders have asked county commissioners to share the funds to expand testing and contact tracing if needed.

"Testing is important, but we are kinda waiting to see what happens in schools because that could change things drastically," Bushman said.

The commissioner said the county wants to hold on to about $2 million of the CARES Act funding until November in case things continue to surge in the fall and winter.

ABC 17 News followed up with both hospitals about the CARES act funding but neither responded to a question regarding the need.

The Cole County Health Department was also unable to comment about the testing supply in the county on Thursday.