Now that a COVID-19 PCR testing site at Barton Community College has closed, the Barton County Health Department will expand its testing to allow residents to continue to receive this service in a convenient manner.

Drive-through testing will be available weekly on Monday from 1-3 p.m., and Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at the health department, 1300 Kansas Ave. Testing forms may be found at www.bartoncounty.org under the health department tab. Pre-filling the testing form will expedite your visit to the testing site, but is not required, according to a news release from County Administrator Phil Hathcock.

Tourhealth operated a COVID-19 PCR testing site on the Barton campus from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13.

Statewide

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports there have been 190,018 COVID-19 cases this year, resulting in 5,895 hospitalizations and 2,109 deaths statewide as of 9 a.m. Monday. There were 4,724 new cases, 37 new deaths and 95 new hospitalizations reported since Friday, Dec. 11.

Totals reported for area counties are: Barton, 1,935; Ellsworth, 917; Pawnee, 852; Rice, 631; Rush, 308; Russell, 645; and Stafford, 245.