Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker has announced Franklin County will receive $12,197,404 in aid from the Federal Cares Act. The money was allocated through the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office. Brinker said the commission has agreed that the funds will be used only for expenses incurred as a result of the virus and expenses to prevent future spread of the virus. He expects that the greatest expense the county will incur will be that of providing testing to detect COVID-19.

Brinker reports that the county is in the process of evaluating several different types of tests. One they are looking at is a self-administered blood spot test, which will be sent to a lab with results available in two to four days. The blood spot tests cost between $90 to $120.

The blood spot test can determine if a person tests positive for the virus, negative for the virus or if they have already had the virus.

More information will be available as they get closer to a determination, according to Brinker.