Drive-thru COVID-19 testing held in Lamar

By MELODY METZGER

Lamar Democrat

At the request of the Department of Health and Senior Services, following the spike in positive COVID-19 cases throughout the area, the Missouri National Guard held a drive thru testing event in Lamar on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the old Summer Fresh/Cash Saver parking lot on E. 12th St. The testing was held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and prior to Thursday morning a little over 100 individuals had registered, with others having the ability to register on-site, making the numbers climb throughout the day.

As one entered the parking lot they were met by a National Guardsman who directed the vehicles into two divided lanes; one for those that had registered previously and those wishing to have the test done, but having not yet registered. Those that were not registered were processed by the Guardsmen in order to be tested.

Several Guardsmen were strategically placed, as those individuals in their vehicles wishing to be tested circled the lot, while being stopped and checked in at the various stations along the way.

The last stop of the drive thru testing was the actual COVID-19 test. The Missouri National Guard testing procedures are much less invasive than many that are being offered. As one pulled up to the last station, a Guardsman would give the registered individual a nasal swab for them to swab both of their nostrils themselves. The swab is then placed in a bag by the Guardsmen and shipped to the lab. The individual being tested is then free to leave. Results are usually reported the the individual being tested in 24-48 hours. The testing was done free to the public.