96 COVID tests were administered in drive-thru event Friday in Gainesville

Driver Karin Tietz speaks with Tim Shryack about her COVID-19 testing appointment Friday, June 26, at Ozark County’s first drive-thru COVID-19 testing event. The event was a cooperative effort of the Ozark County Health Department and the Missouri Ozarks Community Health Clinic in Gainesville, where the drive-thru was held. Shryack, director of all MOCH clinics in the region, was one of the medical professionals administering the test, which was offered free of charge to anyone who wanted one. OCHD administrator Rhonda Suter said area residents were asked to make appointments to be tested, and some vehicles held more than one person who was tested. The tests started at 8 a.m. and were finished by about 3:45 p.m., she said. Results of the testing event were not available at press time Tuesday.