Volunteer clinic providing extra care at COVID testing site in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., (KRDO) - One clinic in the Pikes Peak region, Mission Medical Center on E. La Salle Street, is stepping up by providing the community with COVID-19 tests and medical supplies to those feeling ill.

Mission Medical Center is a free clinic in the area serving low-income families and uninsured individuals in the past month, and their COVID-19 testing site has been busier than ever.

"Prior to Christmas we were averaging just about 40 people a day and now it has just blown up, we're doing over 200 for this small clinic and what we are seeing is a lot of sick individuals," added Barb Cronin, executive director of the Mission Medical Center in Colorado Springs.

With testing at least 200 people a day within the last few weeks, and most of them showing symptoms, Mission partnered with Care and Share to provide those feeling ill with medicine like cough syrup and cough drops, and personal protective equipment like hand sanitizer.

"We just decided people are coming in with symptoms and we've got the supply, let's get it out to the community where people can use it and be comfortable with their symptoms," said Cronin.

At this testing site, they're able to provide both the Saliva PCR and Nasal swab PCR test, and due to their variety of options, they've gotten people across the state visiting their site.

"We are not a household name, but people are finding us people and traveling from Denver because they figure if I have to stand in line or sit in their car for an hour, I might as well drive to Colorado Springs and get the test quickly," said Cronin.

The saliva PCR test results arrive within 48 hours while the nasal swab PCR test arrives within 72 hours.

The clinic is free and the medical staff is mostly comprised of volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer you can e-mail them at: volunteer@missionmedicalcenter.org or head to their website.