MSU holds more drive-thru testing, sees decrease in coronavirus cases

MSU hosted another round of drive-thru COVID-19 testing for students, staff and faculty.

Mississippi state held another round of coronavirus testing for staff and students today.

School officials say the university has seen a decrease on the number of positive cases in recent days.

Wtva's rhea thornton joins us live in starkville with more on what the school is doing to lower the cases.

I'm in the parking lot outside the palmeiro center on mississippi state's campus where earlier today tents were set up delivering free drive thru coronavirus testing for msu students, faculty, and staff.

I was told this testing began as a way for those who may be asymptomatic to receive a test... ."

"we planned to do this just for the people who were worried or maybe they weren't showing symptoms but thought possibly they had covid."

Students, faculty, and staff waited in their cars to receive their free drive thru coronavirus test.

Msu partnered with och regional medical center to allow a fast and easy way for those on campus to receive testing.

Och public relations coordinator mary kathryn kight says this form of testing gives patients a sense of ease... mary kathryn kight - public relations coordinator at och: "with msu offering this drive thru testing for free, that eliminates the barrier for people thinking, oh i don't want to have to go and get tested and stay in the clinic for a long time and have to pay for it.'

With it being free, they're able to come in, drive thru, get tested within one to two minutes."

Within the first twenty minutes och staff tested 21 different people.

But even with the increased testing opportunities, msu has seen a major decline in the number of students quarantinedfrom over 1,000 last week, to around 350 cases this week.

Vp of student affairs jeremy baham says the school is just pushing to keep students and staff safe.

Jeremy baham - assistant vp for student affairs: "we're doing a lot of deep cleaning around the university.

As long as they're on campus, we're maintaining the physical distance whether that's in line for lunch or in our classrooms. we're requiring masks in all of our socials areas."

Even with all the precautions in place, baham credits the decrease in cases to their student body.

Jeremey baham: "i think the difference has been our students, that they're taking this seriously, that they're taking care of each other and you really see the effect that it's having."

Now i was told faculty is hopeful for the future of students but the next big test will be once football season starts.

Reporting live in starkville, rhea thornton wtva 9 news.

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