Carson City health department no longer testing for COVID-19; could change if cases spike
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Wed, 07/28/2021 - 10:44am
UPDATE: Testing has resumed at CCHHS once a week by appointment only for those with symptoms. For more information, go here.
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Beginning Monday, Carson City Health and Human Services stopped all testing for COVID-19 at their location, causing confusion for some individuals on how and where they can receive tests if they fear they've been exposed.
According to Jessica Rapp, Public Information Officer for CCHHS, the decision to end testing is due to a decrease in demand for testing, and the increase in availability of testing throughout our community.
“At any time CCHHS may start up testing again if an increase in cases and disease transmission occur,” said Rapp. “The Epidemiology division is closely monitoring the increase in cases across the state and in the region. CCHHS encourages anyone who is feeling ill with the symptoms of COVID-19 to be tested.”
However, it’s important to note that not all COVID-19 testing will leave you without a bill. While the local urgent cares such as Renown and Carson Tahoe still have the ability to test for COVID-19, they will not do so unless an individual is presenting symptoms, and if they are, they will still require a fee to be seen, which, for those without insurance, can be around $250.
Local pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and more have some availability for COVID-19 testing, ranging from rapid tests to traditional lab-tests, but all appointments must be made online through their respective websites.
For those who do not have access to a computer or are without means or insurance, there are home tests individuals can purchase at pharmacies, but these have a much larger possibility of error, since individuals must set up the test themselves at home.
Throughout the pandemic, CCHHS has been in charge of collecting and analyzing the data regarding transmission, deaths, and vaccines. Rapp stated they will still be collecting data regardless of whether or not they will be testing at their facilities.
To learn more about CCHHS’s response to COVID-19, including updated data on transmission rates, visit https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/
