Are enough COVID-19 tests available for Colorado to open the economy?
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- As Colorado prepares to partially reopen the economy during the "safer-at-home" phase of social distancing, questions remain on the amount of COVID-19 tests available statewide.
Harvard health experts suggest that to open the United States by Mid-May a daily minimum of 152 tests per 100,000 people should be conducted.
The most recent state data shows testing in Colorado is currently 5 times less than the Harvard recommendation.
El Paso County has over 700,000 residents. To meet the minimum amount of tests encouraged by experts, El Paso County would need to test more than 1,064 residents daily.
Previously, Governor Jared Polis stressed the need for additional testing statewide to reopen the economy. However, the current stay-at-home order expires on April 26.
The El Paso County Health Department's Medical Director, Dr. Robin Johnson, says over 600 tests are available at local mobile testing sites and primary care facilities. Johnson also said that hospitals and the state labs could run "several more hundred" depending on needs.
"We are actively getting more concrete numbers, but recognize that as we have systems that are local and also are responding beyond El Paso County to the state and even national needs, there is inherent variability," said Johnson.
Johnson says the number of tests allocated for El Paso County are dependent on supply and demand.
"At this time, we have good resources in terms of PPE, testing kits and lab capacity, as well as staff to collect the specimen," Johnson said. "We continue to monitor this each day with communication with our partners to work toward consistent sustainability."
El Paso County said it receives tests through local partners. The health department can currently send tests directly to the state lab. Officials say they are also utilizing resources at private labs such as Quest, Lab Corp and Centennial.
"We are in the best position we have been to date with the number of tests available," Johnson said. "We continue to be cautiously optimistic that supply and demand will match up as we move forward, particularly with a strategic approach as we transition into the safer at home orders."
Polis said on Wednesday testing cannot be the only deciding factor when reopening the economy.
The governor said 150,000 tests will arrive in Colorado this week.
He stresses that success in the new "safer-at-home" phase depends on more than mass testing. Polis said continued social distancing, the elderly staying home, and wearing masks are crucial while the economy beings to reopen.
