San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) is opening a temporary drive-through testing site today Friday, March 20, from noon – 6pm, and tomorrow, Saturday, March 21 from 9am – noon to collect COVID-19 (coronavirus) data, in collaboration with local multi-agency response partners.
The temporary testing site will be located at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
Limited testing will be conducted at the site for individuals who meet specific testing criteria. Qualifications for testing of La Plata County residents or people employed in the county will based on meeting Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) criteria for COVID-19 symptoms, and those who are:
- Healthcare or long-term care workers
- First responders
- Older adults
- Individuals with underlying health conditions such as heart or lung disease, or diabetes
Individuals who meet the above criteria need call their doctors as soon as possible to get a doctor’s order and then call the Call Center after 8am on Friday, March 20 at to 970-385-8700 to get a time slot for testing. The Call Center will not be open until that time.
“There is a significant shortage of test kits nationally, in Colorado, and in La Plata County.”, said Liane Jollon, SJBPH Executive Director. “Because of the limited number of tests that have been performed, we believe the number of COVID-19 cases in the community has been under-reported. This first testing opportunity will be limited but will provide us a snapshot of the spread of the disease in our community and will allow local public health officials to take actions to mitigate future spread of COVID-19. Our end goal is to have widespread testing and SJBPH is actively seeking additional resources to provide more testing in the communities we serve,” she said.
All tests will be allocated to those who meet the criteria listed above. Members of the community who do not meet the above will not be tested at the Fairgrounds testing site.
In the absence of more widespread testing, people who have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing should assume they have coronavirus and should self-quarantine or isolate themselves.
Other members of the public who are not experiencing symptoms should take protective measures to prevent the spread of the disease. The measures include social distancing measures, and everyday precautions like frequent hand washing, and avoiding contact with sick people.
Individuals who qualify for testing will be required to remain in their vehicles from the moment they enter the Fairgrounds, until they leave the property. There could be a potential wait time in the testing line, so personal needs such as bathrooms, food, and drinks will need to be taken care of, before arriving.
For more information on the testing site please call the Call Center at 970-385-8700 after 8am on Friday, March 20. The Call Center will not be open until that time.
For the most up to date information, visit SJBPH’s website at https://sjbpublichealth.org/coronavirus/
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