Monday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced four new COVID-19 Test Iowa sites were opening this week, and it included one in at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll and one at St. Anthony Clinic in Denison. Sara Rothe, Emergency Department and ICU Director, says that announcement has spurred a lot of activity. The drive-up testing was already being offered at both locations, but Rothe says this will really allow them the opportunity to expand on it. Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
Appointments are required and the process is a simple one. There are a few specific steps that must be followed.
For those who do not have access to the internet, they can call 712-794-5835 for assistance with getting authorization through testiowa.com. Testing is available to anyone who wants it done, regardless of where they live. The only numbers that will be reported for Carroll County are from residents. Rothe says they do expect to see a slight surge in positive cases.
This is the nasal swab type of test. Rothe says it is very quick, taking less than a minute. However, getting the results back from the State Hygienic Lab could take three to five days. Once back, they will contact the patient. Those who test positive will be given directives on the care they should be seeking. Carroll County Public Health will also then begin contact tracing, notifying those who have had contact with a positive patient. Extra staffing is available to them if a surge creates that need. Rothe says since they were notified of being selected for Test Iowa sites, they began preparing, creating a dedicated phone number and lining up Emergency Department nursing staff to conduct testing that starts Wednesday. She says they expect to begin with an average of one test every 10 minutes.
Rothe believes we are doing this testing at the right time for Carroll County, during our mid-June peak. She adds she believes it will also give people a little more peace of mind in going about their lives. Testing can be done more than once, as long as the Test Iowa sites remain active in the area. Rothe expects they will be operating the drive-up testing into July. Those with symptoms of dry cough, fever and difficulty breathing are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider right away and get prioritized for testing through them. There is no charge for COVID-19 testing through the Test Iowa program. A link to the full interview with Sara Rothe can be found below.
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Full interview about Test Iowa sites with Sara Rothe: https://www.1380kcim.com/episode/kcim-interview-sara-roth-st-anthony-emergency-dept-and-icu-director/