Pueblo County COVID-19 testing site expands operating hours, days
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The free COVID-19 community testing site in Pueblo County at the Colorado State Fairgrounds is expanding when it's offering tests.
Starting this week, the testing site is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, along with the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The Saturday additions are aimed at people who may have to work during normal testing hours.
"By expanding the number of days we are doing testing in the community and extending it into the evening and to select Saturdays, we hope that there will be a time that is convenient for anyone who wants to be tested,” said Randy Evetts, public health director for the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment.
In addition to expanding hours, the testing center is also expanding who's eligible to get a free COVID-19 test. Pueblo County says now children aged two and older can get tested.
The testing site is currently in the parking lot of the fairgrounds at the corner of Arroyo and Acero avenues, but it'll be moving inside the fairgrounds after Sept. 9, according to Pueblo County.
Since the drive-thru testing site opened on April 22, the county says 15,803 free tests have been given. However, Gov. Jared Polis said during a presser in Pueblo County Tuesday that more people needed to be tested to get a more accurate look at the county's seven-day positivity average.
Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, sore throat and loss of taste, can get a free test. Pre-registration is recommended at this link, but drive-ups are allowed.
