Johnson County offering free COVID-19 testing for symptomatic adults starting May 18

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Adults who are experiencing symptoms associated with coronavirus infection can now get tested for free through the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment if they can’t get tested through their own healthcare provider.

Starting today, May 18, residents aged 18 and older can schedule an appointment for a test through the department’s website here.

Eligibility requirements for the program include:

  • You must be a Johnson County residents over the age of 18
  • You must have experienced symptoms of coronavirus within the last 14 days
  • Testing is not available from your primary health care provider

Sanmi Areola, PhD, the director of JCDHE, said it’s important for people to arrange for testing as soon as they experience symptoms.

“Finding out who has COVID-19 in the community is important to containing the virus and reducing the spread. If we know who is ill, we can isolate that person and stop transmission of the virus,” says Areola said in a statement.

Symptoms consistent with COVID-19 include:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever greater than 100.4 F
  • Chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

There are two sites for the tests: A drive-thru operation at the JCDHE Olathe office (11875 S. Sunset Drive) and a walk-in operation at the JCDHE Mission office (6000 Lamar Ave). Testing in Olathe will be offered from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday. Testing in Mission will be offered from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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About the author

Jay Senter
Jay Senter

Jay Senter is the founder and publisher of the Johnson County Post.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he worked as a reporter and editor at The Badger Herald.

He went on to receive a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. While he was in graduate school, he also worked as a reporter for the Lawrence Journal-World.

His reporting has appeared in the Kansas City Star, The Pitch and The New York Times, among other publications.

Senter was the recipient of the Johnson County Community College Headliner Award in 2023.

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