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Boulder County on Wednesday announced a new effort to expand access to free COVID-19 testing for underserved and at-risk population groups.
“The new initiative reaches Boulder County residents who do not have equitable access to testing services, including the Latinx community, those experiencing homelessness, individuals age 65 or older, and people living in the Peak to Peak areas of the county,” the county stated in a news release.
Hispanics in Boulder County have seen a disproportionate impact of the virus on their health and livelihoods, according to public health data, a trend that is mirrored nationally.
Boulder Community Health, diagnostic testing developer Biodesix, Inc., and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is partnering with Boulder County Public Health to launch the new coordinated effort, according to a news release.
“Access to testing is vital to reducing the spread of COVID-19 disease in our community. We have worked successfully with local urgent care centers, community clinics, Boulder Community Health and other local hospitals to provide about 500 tests per day, which meets the general testing needs of the community,” Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director, stated in the release. “This new partnership will allow us to ramp up testing for our residents who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”
Boulder Community Health staff will collect the lab specimens and Biodesix, through an agreement with the state health department, will process the tests, according to the release. The county is covering program costs and Boulder County Public Health is coordinating the testing events.
“Lack of financial resources and transportation are major impediments to accessing COVID testing for many underserved populations,” Dr. Robert Vissers, Boulder Community Health president and CEO, stated in the release. “Through this partnership, we will take free testing directly to the people who need it most.”
In addition to free COVID tests, the partners will provide culturally appropriate education materials on how to stay safe and healthy, disease investigations and contact tracing, and isolation and quarantine support, according to the release.
Gebhardt Volkswagen also has donated a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan that will serve as a mobile health unit, according to the release.
