By JACKIE TAYLOR | April 15, 2020

After receiving 100 test kits, from Kansas Department of Health and Environment Laboratory, the Linn County Health Department is now able to do testing of any person showing symptoms of the COVID-19 virus including fever of 100 degrees or more, cough, shortness of breath; also, body aches, chills, headache, loss of smell or taste, or sore throat.

Those with a computer may login at https://us.openforms.com/Form/84ba89be-c393-4bf7-9190-b2c977d9e13b and fill out the self-reporting form questionnaire. When completed and submitted, the form will go to a nurse at the Linn County Health Department who will then go over it and reach out to the patient.

Once the nurse has spoken with the patient and determines the person meets the appropriate criteria, they will be asked to meet a nurse at a location where the specimen for testing can be obtained.

If computer access is not available, those wishing to speak with a health nurse may call the (913) 795-7302 number for assistance.

Linn County Health Nurse Tisha Coleman said the test that is ran through Kansas Health & Environmental Laboratories is a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that uses a nasopharyngeal swab entered thorough the nostril to the nasopharynx. The test determines presence of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19). A person can be contagious at least 2 days before symptoms appear and continue to be at least seven days after symptoms started, or 72 hours after no fever without fever reducing medications, or significant improvement of symptoms, whichever is the longer of the mentioned. 

If a negative result is found on the test, Coleman said they are still staying with a seven-day quarantine, or 72 hours without an elevated temperature, without any fever reducing medications, or significant improvement of symptoms, whichever is the longest, as they can’t guarantee complete accuracy of the test results.

Coleman warned that at this time they are allowed to test people through the Health Department but the rules are changing daily and that may change.