The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is offering free COVID-19 tests to 200 essential workers.

That includes workers at grocery stores, gas stations, and other places considered essential.

Health director Clay Goddard says the tests are being made available at no cost.

You don’t have to have any symptoms to get tested.

Goddard says testing more people — even those without symptoms — will help health officials build a more complete picture of what the coronavirus looks like in Springfield and Greene County.

Tests are on a first come, first serve basis.

To get tested, call 874-1209.

Here’s more from the health department:

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department will offer no-cost COVID-19 testing for essential workers who are not exhibiting symptoms to further study the spread of the disease in our community.

The Health Department has dedicated 200 test kits to test essential workers who live or work in Greene County. This opportunity is for employees who have been working outside of their homes during the stay-at-home orders, such as grocery store employees, restaurant workers, or gas station clerks.

Those who are interested in asymptomatic testing for essential workers can sign up by calling (417) 874-1209. That line will be answered Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A separate physician referral will not be required.

Testing of asymptomatic individuals will allow our community to better understand COVID-19 in our area. However, it should be noted that this is just a snapshot in time. Testing indicates whether a person has COVID-19 at the time of testing only.

It should also be noted that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified six new symptoms that may be associated with COVID-19. Aside from cough, fever and shortness of breath, additional symptoms include:

chills,
repeated shaking with chills,
muscle pain,
headache,
sore throat,
and new loss of taste or smell.

For more information about COVID-19, visit our website at health.springfieldmo.gov/coronavirus, email coronavirus@springfieldmo.gov, or call 417-874-1211.