Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services to Offer Free COVID-19 Testing on January 22

(Joplin, MO) – The City of Joplin and Jasper County Health Departments announced on January 11 that a community COVID-19 testing site will be offered on Friday, January 22 at Access Family Care, 530 S. Maiden Lane in Joplin. This community testing event is for Missouri residents and offered through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and their partners, including the Missouri Primary Care Association and MAKO Medical. 

Testing will be done from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday, January 22, 2021 at Access Family Care, 530 S. Maiden Lane. Missouri DHSS has announced the following details about the community tests:

• Missouri residency is the only requirement; individuals do not have to live in the county in which they are tested, and they do not have to be experiencing symptoms. Any Missouri resident who wishes to be tested with an anterior nasal swab to determine if they have an active COVID-19 infection can do so at no cost.
• Missourians can register online for testing events at health.mo.gov/communitytest and continue to check back for future opportunities.
• Please register for the event by clicking on the registration link associated with the correct testing event. If you need assistance, you may call 919.351.MAKO (6256). Please double-check the spelling of your name and date of birth. This information must be exactly correct to receive your results.

Those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should seek testing at a community testing event or their nearest test site. Those who have had significant contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 should also consider being tested.

Why should a healthy person consider being tested for COVID-19?

• To rule out the possibility that you have COVID-19 and don’t know it. Make sure that you are not an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. Asymptomatic spreaders are a major reason why containing this virus has been so challenging.
• To take early action if you do have COVID-19. If you are in the early stages of a COVID-19 infection, early detection allows you to quickly isolate, rest and recuperate, monitor your symptoms, and seek medical care if needed.
• To spend time with friends and family — especially those at high risk. If you plan to spend a prolonged period of time with loved ones, especially older adults or those with underlying conditions, stay away from high-risk activities for 10 days and then get tested. 
• To help get the virus under control. Widespread testing among healthy people helps to stop the spread of COVID-19. Screening healthy people, staying on top of positive cases, identifying new outbreaks quickly, and being aware of how the virus spreads among people without symptoms are powerful tools in our efforts to suppress the virus.

It is important to remember that a COVID-19 test is a one-time assessment and will only show if you infected at the time of the test. Everyday prevention measures, such as handwashing, social distancing, and mask wearing, should always be practiced, even after you have been tested.

To register for community testing events in Missouri, visit health.mo.gov/communitytest.

Information about the City’s response and recovery related to COVID-19, as well as related announcements, can be found at joplinmo.org/coronavirus. For more details about coronavirus, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at cdc.gov/.