San Juan Basin Public Health and health care providers in La Plata and Archuleta counties have announced a shift in focus on COVID-19 testing to prioritize those who most need to be tested because of a sharp increase in demand for tests, constraints on laboratories that receive tests from around the country and constraints on testing supplies and staff members.
People should refer to these levels of prioritization when considering testing at a free community testing site:
High priority: People with COVID-19 symptoms and those notified of an exposure by SJBPH or another public health agency.Medium priority: People with no symptoms or identified exposure but who live or work with high risk populations such as residents or employees of congregate living or work settings, people experiencing homelessness and employees of high-risk workplaces monitored by public health.All others without a known exposure seeking assurance that they do not have the virus, including those instructed to get a test by an employer or educational facility and those testing for travel-related reasons are not considered a priority for free community testing. Written results for these purposes cannot be provided. Additional testing sites are available by appointment through private testing providers.Employers interested in widespread testing for staff members should work directly with a private testing provider rather than using free community testing sites in order to preserve testing capacity for those with symptoms or a known exposure.
A list of testing sites is available at www.sjbpublichealth.org/testing.
The Mercy Regional Medical Center testing site has been moved to the north parking lot at the intersection of Mercado and Nighthorse Circle.
