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Drive up testing site starts Thursday at old jail

COLUMBUS—Polk County will start having a drive up testing site for the Coronavirus.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners held a Zoom meeting Monday night and heard from health and human service director Joshua Kennedy. Kennedy gave stats and talked about what the county and state has done so far to help curve the spread of COVID-19. He also said beginning Thursday, the county will locate a drive up testing site behind the former Polk County Jail, located in Columbus.

Kennedy said there are Centers for Disease Control priority list of who can be tested, with the county so far testing people like healthcare workers, people who are sick enough to be hospitalized and emergency services workers.

The county received funding from Dogwood Health Trust and is receiving more testing. Local providers will be screening the tests.

Commissioner Paul Beiler asked if the county is planning on doing antibody testing in the future.

Kennedy said his department wants to vent those tests before putting them out to the public.

“We don’t want to give a false sense of security,” Kennedy said.

The antibody tests were ordered by the county last week, so Kennedy said hopefully this week or next the department can evaluate how to administer those.

Kennedy also said the county is seeking rapid tests.

“The rapid tests will help us identify (the virus) immediately instead of having to wait 5 to 7 days,” Kennedy said.

County commissioners complimented Polk residents for adhering to the stay at home orders to help curb the spread of the virus locally. Commissioners also commended local Airbnb owners who have not renting out venues and are policing themselves.