COVID-19 testing site in Utah. (KSL-TV)
SALT LAKE CITY– Utah health officials announced expanded free rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 to address concerns about the uptick in the COVID-19 case positivity rate.
“If you want to get tested, go get tested,” UDOH spokeswoman Charla Haley told KSL-TV.
The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) reported the highest test positivity rate since the start of the pandemic on Monday. Utah’s 7-day rolling average of positive laboratory tests rings in at 30.80%, which is the ninth highest in the nation, according to Intermountain Healthcare.
“There is a good likelihood that there are people out there who are actually positive for COVID but who haven’t been tested and don’t know they’re positive so they’re actually spreading the virus,” Haley said. “If they don’t know they’re positive with COVID, they won’t take the extra precautions and stay away from people like we need them to.”
Haley said the point of expanding free testing is to identify community spread, especially from asymptomatic individuals.
“Identifying these individuals will help slow the spread of infection in the community,” Haley explained.
However, Haley did note antigen tests are not as effective in detecting COVID-19 as PCR tests. Therefore, healthcare workers will refer a PCR test to those who have symptoms and test negative or don’t have symptoms and test positive on the rapid antigen test.
Beaver County
Beaver High School, 195 E Center St, Beaver, Friday, 1/8 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Cache County
Hyrum Senior Center, 695 E Main St, Hyrum, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Carbon County
Walmart, 255 S Hwy 55, Price, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Davis County
Duchesne County
Union High School, 850 E Lagoon St, Roosevelt, Friday, 1/8 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Emery County
Southeast Utah Health Department, 25 W Main St, Castle Dale, Wednesday, 1/6 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday, 1/7 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Grand County
Southeast Utah Health Department, 575 S Kane Creek, Moab, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Juab County
Juab High School, 802 N 650 E, Nephi, Friday, 1/8, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9, 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Salt Lake County
San Juan County
Sanpete County
North Sanpete Learning Center, 390 E 700 S, Mt Pleasant, Thursday 1/7 and Friday, 1/8 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.
Tooele County
Stansbury Park High School, 5300 Aberdeen Ln, Stansbury Park, Tuesday 1/5 and Wednesday 1/6 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.
Utah County
Wasatch County
Wasatch County Events Center, 415 Southfield Road, Heber City, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
Weber County
Ogden School District, Building 8, 1950 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, Monday 1/4 and Tuesday 1/5 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.
Additional testing sites will open as more testing teams are available.
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization