Update on KDHE administered COVID-19 testing tomorrow (2/4/2021)
Dear Colleagues;
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Fort Hays State University, and the Ellis County Health Department will provide free COVID-19 testing for all students and employees of FHSU on February 5 (tomorrow) via a mobile lab unit located at the northeast entry (Gate 2) in the Gross Memorial Coliseum parking lot. Testing will begin at 9 a.m. and run through 2 p.m.
The KDHE mobile lab has the capability to turn around COVID-19 test results within approximately four hours. They will also take specimen samples that are positive back to their lab in Topeka to conduct a more detailed genome testing process that generally takes at least 24-48 hours.
For members of the Ellis County community who are not FHSU students or employees, the Ellis County Health Department will provide testing on February 5 (tomorrow) at the Big Creek Crossing Mall between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Testing will be inside the mall in the old Payless Shoes location. No appointment is needed, and you do not have to be experiencing symptoms to get tested for free.
We will continue to work closely and proactively with our KDHE and ECHD partners tomorrow and in the days ahead in response to the identification of this case of a UK variant coronavirus on our campus and we greatly appreciate the rapid and comprehensive response we have already seen from our state and local partners.
Additional information regarding our response to the identification of a positive case of the UK variant of the COVID-19 virus on our campus is available in a campus email sent earlier today to all students and employees, and in this press release: https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2021/02/ellis-county-health-department-and-fort-hays-state-university-joint-release-on-the-identification-of-a-uk-variant-covid-19-case.
Scott Cason
Chief Communications Office