Colorado Governor Jared Polis says the state will now be offering free at home Covid-19 tests to all Coloradans. KSUT’s Sarah Flower has more.
Story Transcript:
Sarah Flower 00:00
Colorado recently purchased 2 million Binax rapid tests which can be delivered directly to your home, according to Governor Jared Polis. Polis says that continued testing is the key to keeping all Coloradans safe, and that any resident can order these free tests.
Governor Polis 00:19
This is when we need the health benefit of those tests. When we have high COVID rates in our state, now when we need them, more tests, and presumably and hopefully less COVID in three months, in six months, this is the time we need this intervention. That's why we're making them available now. We've acquired 2 million of these tests. We want to get them out to you. Sign up and you will get a test at your doorstep free, quick, easy tests in four to six days.
Sarah Flower 00:41
Roughly 900 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Colorado. State epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy says that while health experts are seeing a bit of a downward trend and almost a plateau of positive cases, Dr. Herlihy says recent cold weather approaching makes her feel uneasy about the potential next wave.
Dr. Rachel Herlihy 01:02
What makes me nervous about this time of year is that fall is a transition time, we move indoors, the weather gets cooler and how that changes our activities. And so there is that possibility that we could be looking at a potential increase in cases once again.
Sarah Flower 01:16
Dr. Herlihy is encouraging every Coloradan to keep all safety measures in place including social distancing, masking, testing, and getting vaccinated if eligible.
Coloradans can order free at-home testing kits here.