The Clinton County Council met in an emergency session late Friday afternoon to approve funds that are going to the purchase of testing kits and supplies for the COVID-19 virus in Clinton County.
“We’re in line to very soon get testing kits for the COVID-19 virus here in Clinton County,” said Clinton Council President Alan Dunn. “We needed to put money in place so that they could get those kits purchased and any support materials that they would need to begin administering those tests.”
The council approved $6,500 for services and medical office supplies from one fund along with service contracts as well as another $4,000 supplies and travel immunizations from another.
Dunn said the test kits will on the way as soon as next week. Dunn added that could be this weekend or the first of next week. However, there is no time set as to when or where the tests would be administered in addition to the tests not being mandatory. Also, there is not a way for everybody to be tested.
“It was going to be about $50 per test,” said Dunn. “It is still unclear or who exactly is going to pay for that. So, we were operating today on the assumption that the county would have to pay for them up front and perhaps get reimbursed by the federal government.
“But, I didn’t want the funding to be any kind of a hiccup or delay in getting the tests here in the county,” added Dunn. “We got that request this morning and we have the money in place by this afternoon.”
Clinton County Health Department Director Rodney Wann said the process of getting the test kits are already in progress.
“We’re trying to secure a contract with a private lab,” said Wann. “Once its secured, we will start planning to do sampling and have those samples sent to a private lab.”
Wann added this will be a drive-thru clinic to help with the social distancing requirement of six feet and keep people as much apart as possible.
Dunn added testing will be widespread.