With holiday season in swing, Springfield area libraries offer free COVID-19 test kits

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
·1 min read
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With more people gathering indoors, the risk of COVID-19 spread increases. All branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library and the Mobile Library will offer free COVID-19 test kits starting today, Dec. 1.

According to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, about 2,000 test kits are available. The health department requests that people only take two kits to allow others access to the tests.

The health department encourages people to get tested if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms.

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In addition to the free test kits, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is offering free COVID-19, RSV and Influenza A & B testing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at Teamsters Hall, 1850 E. Division St.

In the past, there have been increases in cases following Thanksgiving into the holiday season: Nov. 26, 2021, saw a 7-day average of 51 cases and 68 patients in the hospital with COVID-19, which increased to an average of 99.57 cases and 91 hospitalized by Dec. 3, 2021.

As of Nov. 25, Greene County had a 7-day average of 35.86, and 41 patients in the hospital with COVID-19, according to the COVID-19 dashboard, which updates on Fridays.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 2,000 free COVID-19 test kits available at Springfield libraries