Residents of Webster and surrounding communities can be tested for COVID-19 this week as the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Mississippi State Department of Health continue efforts to stem virus transmission by setting up one-day, drive-through collection sites. The newest testing sites for Friday, Aug. 28, include Webster County: Garan Parking Lot, 86 Government Ave., Eupora. Testing hours at one-day collection sites across the state are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Anyone can be tested at those sites by appointment who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat; or who has a known or potential exposure to someone confirmed with the virus. Mississippians who want to be tested must first complete a free screening from a UMMC clinician through an online questionnaire found at umc.edu/covidscreening. Anyone determined to need testing will be given an appointment date and time. Those who don’t have online access can seek an appointment by calling the UMMC Center for Telehealth at 601-496-7200 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi National Guard are partnering with UMMC and MSDH to coordinate mobile testing sites. During drive-through testing, health care professionals will collect specimen samples via a nose swab. Those being tested will not exit their vehicle. ---------- Testing available for teachers Also, Mississippi public, private and parochial teachers and school staff in grades kindergarten-12 can now be tested by appointment at any of the one-day collection sites coordinated by MSDH and UMMC. Teachers and school staff can be tested regardless of whether they show symptoms or have had close contact with someone positive for the virus. They must receive an appointment by completing an online questionnaire found at umc.edu/covidscreening. The questionnaire includes a query asking if the person needing testing is an educator. Additionally, MSDH will be hosting drive-through COVID-19 testing sites for Mississippi teachers and staff at various county health departments over the next few weeks. Any K-12 teacher, staff or administrator can be tested for free at their county health department. Testing hours are noon to 7 p.m., and no appointment is necessary. Testing at the Webster County Health Department, located at 57 Govt. Ave. in Eupora, will be Sept. 2. County records 25 new virus cases Webster County has reported more than two dozen new COVID-19 cases in a week’s time, according to public health data. As of Monday, the Mississippi State Department of Health said 282 positive test results had been reported here to date. That is an increase of 25 cases over the previous seven days. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the county remains at 13. Countywide, the breakdown by race and ethnicity for the 282 total cases is categorized by MSDH as 175 white, 71 Black, two Hispanic, one American Indian, 11 other and 22 unknown. Unless extended, social distancing measures under the governor’s Safe Return order are scheduled to expire at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31. This includes a statewide mask mandate. Mississippians must wear a face covering when they're inside a business, school or any place open to the public, or when at an outdoor public space where social distancing is not possible.
