Hoping to drastically slow down the spread of the coronavirus, Colorado and Indiana have opened up drive-through novel coronavirus testing centers that are completely free to use.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said the first facility will be in Denver but more centers will hopefully be put up soon.
When the testing center at the Lowry neighborhood of Denver opened at 10 am, several dozen cars were in line an hour later.
In Mishawaka, Indiana, healthcare workers were observed testing patients.
The global coronavirus outbreak has already been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. There are over 1,000 coronavirus cases in the US with 37 deaths as of the evening of March 11.
Although the drive-through facility is free, patients still need a written or electronic order from a doctor or healthcare provider, as well as present a photo ID, so that the test can be performed. Operating hours are from 10 am to 2 pm through Friday.
The state eventually wants to start testing anyone who has flu-like symptoms.
For now, patients must have a fever or signs of a lower respiratory illness. Contact with someone who had been confirmed as having the coronavirus within 14 days of the onset of symptoms is also required.
Since testing is free, proof of insurance is not required.
However, expect long wait times and officials have even advised people to bring water and other comfort items with them.
Gov. Polis said the state had 900 tests but was waiting on an additional 1,500 tests that the federal government is supposed to send by the end of the week.
At a news conference on the evening of March 11, he said, “This will get worse before it gets better.
“It appears the virus will be disproportionately hitting our resort and mountain communities first. It doesn’t mean it will hit our resort and mountain communities exclusively.”
Upon taking the test, patients are advised to isolate themselves at home until the results come out. If the result is positive, the patient is ordered to quarantine themselves.
An aerial video of the Denver testing facility courtesy of reporter Joshua Potash showed a line of cars jampacked into the parking lot as they waited for their turn.
As of the afternoon of March 11, Colorado had 33 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Indiana has also put up a drive-through testing facility.
Indiana had its first coronavirus case last March 6 in Marion County. By March 11, there were 11 cases.
Roughly $10.3 million in funding will be sent to Indiana to help its COVID-19 response, said the US Department of Health and Human Services. It’s part of the $8.3 billion measure President Trump had signed.
At the drive-through site outside the South Bend Clinic Day Rod Immediate Care Center in Mishawaka, healthcare workers were seen testing patients.
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