Mass Testing Event Completed Nearly 100 COVID-19 Tests at Fremont Middle School Tuesday

FREMONT – The Three Rivers Public Health Department held its first mass-testing for COVID-19 yesterday. Nearly one hundred people were tested.
The testing was held Tuesday afternoon at the Fremont Middle School, and one hundred tests were available – 94 tests were used. The test event was not open to the public; instead, testing was performed on a prioritized roster of people who were confirmed close contacts of previously diagnosed COVID-19 cases who needed testing.
When the results from yesterday’s mass testing come back, it’s likely that our health jurisdiction will see a jump in case numbers. “I do expect a significant increase, with more testing,” said Terra Uhing, Executive Director for Three Rivers Public Health Department. Prior to the mass test, in Dodge county, there had only been 280 tests done – not because officials don’t want to test, but because they can’t get the testing supplies.
Testing kits, sample gathering swabs, and reagent media for the test process are still in extremely short supply. The State of Nebraska has procurement officials working every day to get the testing supplies into the hands of labs, health departments and other officials. Until testing is widely available, tests will continue to be limited to priority groups: healthcare workers, first responders, those with underlying health complications expected to cause COVID-19 complications, and the elderly.
The peak of cases is yet to come for the eastern Nebraska area, according to Uhing. “Starting from the 23rd [of April] through maybe May 2nd or May 3rd,” said Uhing, “That’s where I thought: if we see any increases, that’s where we’ll see them.”
Uhing says the health department should have results for these 100 tests by the end of the week.
You can listen to the full interview with Uhing on our Podcast page.