The COVID-19 testing site at the Boulder County Fairgrounds is doing about 1,000 tests a day while two recent temporary testing sites in Longmont did about 120 tests each, Dan Eamon, Longmont’s assistant public safety chief, told city council Tuesday night.
The temporary sites targeted the Latinx population, which might not be able to get to the fairgrounds, Eamon said.
“We are clearly showing a need” for testing, he said.
City Manager Harold Dominguez said another testing site may soon be opened at Longmont’s Lashley Street Station, 1200 Lashley St.
“We will continue to … target the bilingual population,” Dominiguez said.
Dominguez, in his weekly COVID-19 update to council, said city staff will discuss how Boulder County moving Friday to red-level status on the state’s newly revamped COVID dial dashboard will impact city facilities. One such impact became clear Wednesday morning, when the Longmont Public Library announced it would close to the public and return to offering only curbside pickup.
Dominiguez added the city will have to deal with residents who congregate at Longmont Housing Authority facilities. The housing authority and the city in May entered a management agreement that allowed City Manager Harold Dominguez and several key staff members to oversee operations at the agency. The move came after the housing authority lost its executive director and was hit with several problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are going to have to take action in those facilities,” Dominguez said.
He also echoed the concerns of public health officials that most COVID-19 exposures are taking place in social gatherings and not in work places or hospitals.
Council on Tuesday night also unanimously approved a non-binding resolution asking Longmont residents to wear masks, maintain social distancing and avoid social interactions to help slow the spread of the virus, which as of Monday 2,563 Longmont residents had tested positive or were considered probable for, according to Boulder County Public Health data.
