How to get tested for COVID in Denver after some free sites close
4 min readAs COVID-19 cases rise all over again in Colorado, the point out is shutting down extra than a dozen absolutely free testing web pages across metro Denver by April 30.
That is the lousy information. The very good news: Quite a few alternatives even now continue being to get examined via a lab at no cost — nevertheless there are more selections for men and women with wellness coverage than for all those who absence coverage. And you may possibly have to vacation a little farther.
In announcing the closure of 40 of the state’s 120 screening web-sites previously this month, which includes 16 in metro Denver, the Colorado Department of Community Health and fitness and Ecosystem explained it was transitioning from featuring testing and vaccination at point out-operate internet sites to leaning much more on “traditional overall health treatment options.” It stated the 80 remaining state web-sites however would have capacity to manage 26,000 checks for every day, with further capability available by health care vendors, non-public pharmacies and other testing centers.
But as situations have risen, demand for testing has amplified from about 2,500 tests per working day early in the month to an normal of 12,000 more not too long ago. That’s effectively under the peak of 60,000 or far more day-to-day exams back again in January, at the height of the omicron wave.
At the exact time, more individuals are relying on at-property quick antigen checks that normally really do not get reported to the condition.
“We’re in a really unique position in the pandemic now than we have been at any other time,” stated Scott Bookman, the state’s COVID-19 incident commander. “Demand for tests has gone down significantly. We’re only applying about 5% of our ability at our statewide screening websites.”
How to get a COVID exam
PCR exams and other lab assessments ordinarily provide results in just one to two days and are a lot more accurate at detecting COVID than immediate antigen assessments. If you will need one, right here are the options accessible:
- Condition web-sites: The remaining general public testing web-sites include things like several in Denver and the suburbs, with some open up only on weekdays and some with weekend several hours. Go to covid19.colorado.gov/screening to come across the closest check web-site. Amid these closing at the finish of this 7 days are sites downtown at the Auraria Campus and on the 16th Avenue Mall.
- Overall health care providers: Persons with insurance ordinarily can receive totally free tests at doctor’s places of work and other services, and insurers this sort of as Kaiser Permanente Colorado also are masking off-web site exams or reimbursing users for the price. Non-public insurers also have to supply reimbursement for at-dwelling speedy assessments.
- Pharmacies: Pharmacy chains, which include Walgreens and CVS, also offer you on-site screening, billing insurance policies for those people with coverage and making use of a federal software to include the cost for uninsured people. Appointments are available on their web-sites. Although funding for the uninsured method has operate out when Congress debates a new COVID expending monthly bill, the two chains have mentioned they are however waiving costs.
- Non-public testing: Tests facilities and urgent-care clinics throughout the metro region give checks that are coated by some insurance programs or can be obtained out of pocket. Prices for a PCR or NAAT exam usually run $125 to $200, with expedited success accessible at some centers for an further cost. For vacationers, Denver International Airport has two XpresCheck locations, in the terminal and on Concourse B, that demand $175 for a conventional PCR check and $250 for a quick PCR take a look at that returns effects within just an hour.
The new federal “Test to Treat” plan delivers a different cost-free alternative that connects individuals to pharmacies and clinics that can deliver brief checks and, if needed, no cost prescription antiviral medication to handle COVID. You also can deliver a result from an at-dwelling fast test or a test taken somewhere else to acquire a no cost assessment for prescription drugs.
An on the internet portal for the system shows 10 taking part spots within 30 miles of downtown Denver, most of them inside King Soopers grocery outlets. Data about taking part locations is also readily available by contacting 800-232-0233.
What about at-household speedy tests?
A number of neighborhood governments and community companies offer you supplies of cost-free at-dwelling immediate checks, which offer benefits in about 15 minutes. The federal government also is nonetheless presenting each residence two sets of four swift assessments, offered by unique.usps.com/testkits.
“We’re in a different entire world,” Bookman said, with at-household exams supplying hassle-free possibilities for normal monitoring or rapid access to a examination following publicity to another person with COVID-19.
“At this level,” he reported, “the examination that you have availability and accessibility to is the ideal take a look at we have. Irrespective of whether it is a immediate test at house, a test at your service provider (or) via the Take a look at to Address software, what we want to make positive is that about a few times immediately after publicity — or if you are emotion symptomatic — get tested.”
If you take a look at positive, Bookman explained, “it’s absolutely significant that you access out to your well being care provider” to locate out if you are eligible for antiviral prescription drugs, these kinds of as Paxlovid or Lagevrio, since those people involve quick procedure to be powerful.
Past tests, he mentioned the very best precaution continues to be getting vaccinated from COVID-19 and trying to keep up on boosters. The vaccines have been revealed to lower the chance of an infection as perfectly as the probability of developing extreme sickness if an infection happens.
