Lines at the Boulder County Fairground testing site cause extended wait times

The day after Christmas, the COVID-19 testing site has seen staggering wait times, according to Mako Medical Site Supervisor Viviana Chihuan. Patients have waited as long as three hours to get a test, she said.

The lines to get COVID tests were so lengthy, Longmont Public Safety had to help direct traffic. The Fairground entrance off Nelson Road has been closed as well, due to traffic concerns, Chihuan said, after traffic was backed up to Sunset Street.

The Fairgrounds testing site, operated by Mako Medical, opened at 8 a.m. and the lines of cars haven’t stopped coming, Chihuan explained. Mako Medical staff have recommended that people in a hurry visit another testing site in the area, even recommending driving as far as Loveland because the wait times are shorter.

“We only had four staff members when we opened this morning, fortunately two more people could join us today,” Chihuan said.

Chihuan and her coworkers expect the extended wait times, which are as long as three hours, to continue throughout the week. The increase in testing demand is likely due to Christmas gatherings and the rise of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Chihuan added.

“If (people) come to get tested, expect a long wait and please be patient,” she said.