Colorado National Guard conducting coronavirus testing at Colorado Springs nursing home
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- El Paso County Public Health confirmed to KRDO that the Colorado National Guard is helping with coronavirus testing at the Pikes Peak Center nursing home. Guard personnel and tents were spotted outside the center on N. Union Boulevard Sunday.
This is related to Gov. Polis's announcement that he would be deploying the National Guard to three long term care facilities in the state, said Michelle Hewitt with EPCPH.
Hewitt says the National Guard was deployed to larger nursing homes that did not have a known outbreak as part of a proactive strategy.
"That strategy was based on the size of the facilities, the larger ones, and proactively looking at facilities that don't have a known outbreak," said Hewitt. "The state is interested in testing before an outbreak occurs and identifying anyone who may be positive to help stop the spread."
Hewitt tells us the National Guard will be testing all of the staff and residents at Pikes Peak Center. As of Sunday, one resident and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19. But according to the state definition of an outbreak -- which is two confirmed cases of residents in one week -- this is not yet an outbreak.
Hewitt says it's the only National Guard testing site in southern Colorado that she's aware of at this time.
"The tests are provided to each site for patients and staff and the'll be tested by the state's lab," said Hewitt. "The National Guard is just helping implement that testing.
