San Juan Basin Public Health and Mercy Regional Medical Center announced a streamlined process for COVID-19 testing Wednesday.
People with symptoms will no longer need to complete a screening over the phone before getting tested. Individuals can now be screened on-site by hospital staff at Mercy’s Horse Gulch location.
Testing is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, according to a news release from SJBPH.
“It is the goal of San Juan Basin Public Health and Mercy to make the testing process as easy as possible for members of our community,” said Mercy CEO Mike Murphy in a statement. “Providing on-site screening is just one way we can simplify the process.”
The walk-in site can test 50 people per day, according to the hospital. Appointments and health care provider orders are not required, and there is no fee for the test.
“We are pleased that getting tested for COVID-19 is even easier, and we encourage local residents to take advantage of this simplified testing process,” said Liane Jollon, executive director of SJBPH. “The more people tested, the more information we have to better fight the virus.”
Patients are asked to enter the first floor of Mercy’s Horse Gulch location at 810 E. Third St., and proceed to the garden level for testing. The results should be available within 48 to 72 hours.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provided the tests to expand community testing throughout the state.
Other locations for diagnostic testing in La Plata County are Cedar Diagnostics, Durango Urgent Care and Mercy Regional Medical Center’s hospital location.
